Based on limited published evidence, SPATA2L is a cytoplasmic protein with demonstrated protein binding capacity. A genome-wide association study identified SPATA2L as a novel genetic variant associated with adiponectin levels in a South Asian population 1, with variants acting as expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in adipose tissue, brain, and pancreas. In a maternal diet study using mice, Spata2l expression was decreased in fetal brains exposed to vegetable-substituted high-fat diets compared to standard high-fat diets 2. The gene's specific molecular function remains largely uncharacterized.