The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the family of G-protein coupled receptors, that are preferentially activated by adenosine and uridine nucleotides. This gene aligns with an internal intron of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene in the reverse orientation.[8]
In February 2008, researchers at the University of Bonn announced they have found the genetic basis of two distinct forms of inherited hair loss, opening a broad path to treatments for baldness. They found that mutations in the gene P2RY5 causes a rare, inherited form of hair loss called hypotrichosis simplex. It is the first receptor in humans known to play a role in hair growth. The fact that any receptor plays a specific role in hair growth was previously unknown to scientists, and with this new knowledge a focus on finding more of these genes may be able to lead to therapies for many different types of hair loss.[9][11]
In 2013, it was found that mutations in LPAR6 give rise to the Cornish Rex cat breed, which has a form of ectodermal dysplasia characterised by short woolly hair which is susceptible to loss.[12]
^ abPasternack SM, von Kügelgen I, Aboud KA, Lee YA, Rüschendorf F, Voss K, Hillmer AM, Molderings GJ, Franz T, Ramirez A, Nürnberg P, Nöthen MM, Betz RC (March 2008). "G protein-coupled receptor P2Y5 and its ligand LPA are involved in maintenance of human hair growth". Nat. Genet. 40 (3): 329–34. doi:10.1038/ng.84. PMID18297070. S2CID20241237.
^Choi JW, Herr DR, Noguchi K, Yung YC, Lee CW, Mutoh T, Lin ME, Teo ST, Park KE, Mosley AN, Chun J (January 2010). "LPA Receptors: Subtypes and Biological Actions". Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 50 (1): 157–186. doi:10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.010909.105753. PMID20055701.
Toguchida J, McGee TL, Paterson JC, et al. (1993). "Complete genomic sequence of the human retinoblastoma susceptibility gene". Genomics. 17 (3): 535–43. doi:10.1006/geno.1993.1368. PMID7902321.
Maruyama K, Sugano S (1994). "Oligo-capping: a simple method to replace the cap structure of eukaryotic mRNAs with oligoribonucleotides". Gene. 138 (1–2): 171–4. doi:10.1016/0378-1119(94)90802-8. PMID8125298.
Li Q, Schachter JB, Harden TK, Nicholas RA (1997). "The 6H1 orphan receptor, claimed to be the p2y5 receptor, does not mediate nucleotide-promoted second messenger responses". Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 236 (2): 455–60. doi:10.1006/bbrc.1997.6984. PMID9240460.
Suzuki Y, Yoshitomo-Nakagawa K, Maruyama K, et al. (1997). "Construction and characterization of a full length-enriched and a 5'-end-enriched cDNA library". Gene. 200 (1–2): 149–56. doi:10.1016/S0378-1119(97)00411-3. PMID9373149.