FFAR2: Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2
A G-protein coupled receptor for short-chain fatty acids, key in metabolic and inflammatory signaling
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | FFAR2 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 19q13.12 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 2867 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2867 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000126262 |
| UniProt ID | O15552 |
| OMIM ID | 603823 |
| HGNC ID | 4500 |
| Aliases | GPR43, FFA2R |
Description
FFAR2 (Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2), also known as GPR43, is a G-protein coupled receptor activated by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate. It plays a critical role in metabolic regulation, immune response, and inflammation. The receptor is expressed in adipose tissue, immune cells, and the gastrointestinal tract, linking diet and gut microbiota to host physiology.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity | FFAR2 activation by SCFAs modulates energy expenditure and adipogenesis; loss of function may promote fat accumulation. | PMID: 23395176 |
| Type 2 Diabetes | FFAR2 signaling influences insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis via GLP-1 secretion. | PMID: 22960657 |
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease | FFAR2 mediates anti-inflammatory effects of SCFAs in colonic epithelial cells and immune cells. | PMID: 23954159 |
| Colorectal Cancer | Aberrant FFAR2 expression may alter SCFA-induced apoptosis and proliferation in tumor cells. | PMID: 25263521 |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | 12.5 | Medium |
| Colon | 18.3 | High |
| Small intestine | 15.1 | High |
| Spleen | 8.9 | Low |
| Lung | 6.2 | Low |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| THP-1 (monocyte) | 22.4 | High expression in immune cells |
| Caco-2 (colon epithelial) | 19.7 | Relevant for gut barrier function |
| HepG2 (hepatocyte) | 4.3 | Low expression |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.680C>T (p.Pro227Leu) | Missense | 0.001% | Reduced receptor activity in vitro |
| c.1018G>A (p.Val340Met) | Missense | 0.002% | Altered ligand binding affinity |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
p.Pro227Leu reduces SCFA-induced signaling.
Gain of Function (GOF)
No confirmed gain-of-function variants reported.
Dominant Negative (DN)
Not described for FFAR2.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • G-protein coupled receptor activity | • short-chain fatty acid binding |
| • signal transduction | • inflammatory response |
| • positive regulation of insulin secretion |
Pathways
• GPCR downstream signaling (Gi/o and Gq/11)
• Short-chain fatty acid signaling in metabolism
• Regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes
Protein Summary
FFAR2 is a 330-amino acid transmembrane receptor that couples to Gi/o and Gq/11 proteins. Upon binding SCFAs, it activates intracellular signaling cascades including ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and PI3K/Akt. The receptor is involved in chemotaxis, cytokine production, and energy homeostasis. Structural studies reveal a conserved orthosteric binding pocket for acetate and propionate.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFAR2 Knockout HIEC-6 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ41 | Human | 2867 | Details Get a Quote |
| FFAR2 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ1795 | Human | 2867 | Details Get a Quote |
| FFAR2 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ18232 | Human | 2867 | Details Get a Quote |
| FFAR2 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ53413 | Human | 2867 | Details Get a Quote |
| FFAR2 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ70369 | Human | 2867 | Details Get a Quote |
