ABHD2 Gene

HGNC Family	Abhydrolase domain containing (ABHD)
Name	abhydrolase domain containing 2
Description	This gene encodes a protein containing an alpha/beta hydrolase fold, which is a catalytic domain found in a wide range of enzymes. The encoded protein is an acylglycerol lipase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of endocannabinoid arachidonoylglycerol from the cell membrane. This leads to activation of the sperm calcium channel CatSper, which results in sperm activation. Alternative splicing of this gene results in two transcript variants encoding the same protein. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2017]
Summary	{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n The α/β‐hydrolase domain–containing protein 2 (ABHD2) is emerging as a multifunctional enzyme with roles spanning reproductive physiology, pulmonary integrity, cancer progression, and lipid metabolism. In human sperm, ABHD2 functions as a non‐genomic progesterone receptor by binding progesterone and acting as a lipid hydrolase that depletes the endocannabinoid 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG). Normally, 2‐AG suppresses the CatSper calcium channel; its removal by ABHD2 triggers CatSper‐mediated Ca²⁺ influx that is essential for sperm activation and hyperactivation, processes critical for fertilization."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n In addition to its role in sperm, ABHD2 is also implicated in the regulation of lipid homeostasis in the lung. It is expressed in alveolar type II cells, where it helps maintain proper phosphatidylcholine levels in the alveolar lining. Loss of ABHD2 leads to disrupted phospholipid metabolism, inflammatory cytokine upregulation, and enhanced apoptosis, cumulatively contributing to the gradual development of emphysema."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "3"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n In cancer, particularly ovarian carcinoma, reduced expression of ABHD2 correlates with anoikis resistance, increased activation of MAPK signaling (as indicated by elevated phosphorylated p38 and ERK levels), platinum resistance, and poorer patient prognosis."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "4"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Moreover, altered expression of ABHD2 has also been observed in retroviral tagging studies of gliomas."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "5"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Beyond these roles, ABHD2 has been characterized as a triacylglycerol lipase and ester hydrolase, suggesting it contributes to the broader regulation of lipid metabolism."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "6"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Genetic studies have also linked ABHD2 polymorphisms to an increased susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in certain populations"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "7"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ", and functional studies indicate that blocking ABHD2 can inhibit hepatitis B virus propagation, positioning the enzyme as a potential antiviral target."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "8"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Regulation of ABHD2 also plays a role in differentiation processes. For instance, retinoic acid–induced upregulation of miR‑485 targets ABHD2, resulting in enhanced Erk1/2 phosphorylation and subsequent cell differentiation."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "9"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Finally, modulation of ABHD2 expression in reproductive tract tissues following mating may influence sperm–epithelial interactions that are important for pre‑implantation processes."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "10"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Collectively, these findings reveal that ABHD2 functions as a key mediator linking steroid hormone signaling to lipid hydrolysis and ion channel regulation. Its diverse roles underscore its importance in optimizing sperm function, maintaining pulmonary homeostasis, modulating cancer cell survival, and regulating metabolic processes.\n "}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Melissa R Miller, Nadja Mannowetz, Anthony T Iavarone, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Unconventional endocannabinoid signaling governs sperm activation via the sex hormone progesterone."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Science (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1126/science.aad6887"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad6887"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "26989199"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26989199"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 2, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Nadja Mannowetz, Melissa R Miller, Polina V Lishko "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Regulation of the sperm calcium channel CatSper by endogenous steroids and plant triterpenoids."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2017)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1073/pnas.1700367114"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1700367114"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "28507119"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28507119"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 3, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Shoude Jin, Gang Zhao, Zhenghua Li, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Age-related pulmonary emphysema in mice lacking alpha/beta hydrolase domain containing 2 gene."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2009)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.01.098"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.01.098"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "19250629"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19250629"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 4, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Koji Yamanoi, Noriomi Matsumura, Susan K Murphy, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Suppression of ABHD2, identified through a functional genomics screen, causes anoikis resistance, chemoresistance and poor prognosis in ovarian cancer."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Oncotarget (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.18632/oncotarget.9951"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.9951"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "27323405"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27323405"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 5, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Keishi Miyata, Yuichi Oike, Takayuki Hoshii, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Increase of smooth muscle cell migration and of intimal hyperplasia in mice lacking the alpha/beta hydrolase domain containing 2 gene."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2005)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.01.127"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.01.127"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "15721306"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15721306"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 6, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Naresh Kumar M, Thunuguntla V B S C, Veeramachaneni G K, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Molecular characterization of human ABHD2 as TAG lipase and ester hydrolase."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biosci Rep (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1042/BSR20160033"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20160033"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "27247428"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27247428"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 7, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Li Liu, Xiangshun Li, Rui Yuan, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Associations of ABHD2 genetic variations with risks for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Chinese Han population."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "PLoS One (2015)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1371/journal.pone.0123929"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0123929"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "25880496"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25880496"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 8, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "X R Ding, J Yang, D C Sun, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Whole genome expression profiling of hepatitis B virus-transfected cell line reveals the potential targets of anti-HBV drugs."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Pharmacogenomics J (2008)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1038/sj.tpj.6500459"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.tpj.6500459"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "17505500"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17505500"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 9, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Mengying Yu, Lei Zhang, Yingxiang Liu, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Retinoic Acid Induces Differentiation of Mouse F9 Embryonic Carcinoma Cell by Modulating the miR-485 Targeting of Abhd2."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Int J Mol Sci (2019)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.3390/ijms20092071"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20092071"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "31035455"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31035455"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 10, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Jaume Gardela, Amaia Jauregi-Miguel, Cristina A Martinez, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Semen Modulates the Expression of NGF, ABHD2, VCAN, and CTEN in the Reproductive Tract of Female Rabbits."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Genes (Basel) (2020)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.3390/genes11070758"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11070758"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "32645906"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32645906"}]}]}]}
Synonyms	LABH2, PHPS1-2, HS1-2
Proteins	ABHD2_HUMAN
NCBI Gene ID	11057
API
Download Associations
Predicted Functions
Co-expressed Genes
Expression in Tissues and Cell Lines

Functional Associations

ABHD2 has 9,351 functional associations with biological entities spanning 9 categories (molecular profile, organism, chemical, functional term, phrase or reference, disease, phenotype or trait, structural feature, cell line, cell type or tissue, gene, protein or microRNA, sequence feature) extracted from 113 datasets.

Click the + buttons to view associations for ABHD2 from the datasets below.

If available, associations are ranked by standardized value

Harmonizome 3.0

ABHD2 Gene

Functional Associations

Please acknowledge the Harmonizome in your publications by citing the following reference(s):

	Dataset	Summary
	Achilles Cell Line Gene Essentiality Profiles	cell lines with fitness changed by ABHD2 gene knockdown relative to other cell lines from the Achilles Cell Line Gene Essentiality Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles	tissue samples with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray	tissue samples with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by RNA-seq	tissue samples with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by RNA-seq dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other cell lines from the BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures	small molecule perturbations changing expression of ABHD2 gene from the Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of ABHD2 gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations	cell types associated with ABHD2 gene from the CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles	transcription factor binding site profiles with transcription factor binding evidence at the promoter of ABHD2 gene from the CHEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of ABHD2 gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022	transcription factors binding the promoter of ABHD2 gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022 dataset.
	CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules	small molecule perturbations changing expression of ABHD2 gene from the CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing ABHD2 protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing ABHD2 protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing ABHD2 protein in low- or high-throughput protein localization assays from the COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing ABHD2 protein in low- or high-throughput protein localization assays from the COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components co-occuring with ABHD2 protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components co-occuring with ABHD2 protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of ABHD2 gene relative to other cell lines from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles	cell lines with ABHD2 gene mutations from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles dataset.
	CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions	chemicals interacting with ABHD2 gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions dataset.
	CTD Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with ABHD2 gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	DeepCoverMOA Drug Mechanisms of Action	small molecule perturbations with high or low expression of ABHD2 protein relative to other small molecule perturbations from the DeepCoverMOA Drug Mechanisms of Action dataset.
	DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency	cell lines with fitness changed by ABHD2 gene knockdown relative to other cell lines from the DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency dataset.
	DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases associated with ABHD2 gene in GWAS datasets from the DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores	diseases co-occuring with ABHD2 gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases co-occuring with ABHD2 gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with ABHD2 gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	ENCODE Histone Modification Site Profiles	histone modification site profiles with high histone modification abundance at ABHD2 gene from the ENCODE Histone Modification Site Profiles dataset.
	ENCODE Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles	transcription factor binding site profiles with transcription factor binding evidence at the promoter of ABHD2 gene from the ENCODE Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ENCODE Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of ABHD2 gene in ChIP-seq datasets from the ENCODE Transcription Factor Targets dataset.
	ESCAPE Omics Signatures of Genes and Proteins for Stem Cells	PubMedIDs of publications reporting gene signatures containing ABHD2 from the ESCAPE Omics Signatures of Genes and Proteins for Stem Cells dataset.
	GDSC Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of ABHD2 gene relative to other cell lines from the GDSC Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	GeneRIF Biological Term Annotations	biological terms co-occuring with ABHD2 gene in literature-supported statements describing functions of genes from the GeneRIF Biological Term Annotations dataset.