FFAR4 (Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4)
A G-protein coupled receptor for long-chain fatty acids involved in metabolic regulation and inflammation
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | FFAR4 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4 |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 10q23.33 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 338557 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/338557 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000186188 |
| UniProt ID | Q5NUL3 |
| OMIM ID | 609044 |
| HGNC ID | 19830 |
| Aliases | GPR120, O3FAR1, GPR129, GT01 |
Description
FFAR4 (Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4), also known as GPR120, is a G-protein coupled receptor that binds long-chain free fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids. It plays a key role in metabolic regulation, insulin sensitivity, and anti-inflammatory responses. Expressed in adipose tissue, intestine, and immune cells, FFAR4 mediates signaling pathways that influence energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity | Loss-of-function variants impair fatty acid sensing, leading to reduced GLP-1 secretion and increased adiposity | PMID: 22560223 |
| Type 2 Diabetes | Impaired FFAR4 signaling reduces insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake | PMID: 22560223 |
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease | FFAR4 activation by omega-3 fatty acids reduces intestinal inflammation via β-arrestin-2 pathway | PMID: 23563266 |
| Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease | FFAR4 deficiency exacerbates hepatic steatosis and inflammation | PMID: 28257692 |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | 15.2 | Medium |
| Colon | 12.8 | Medium |
| Small intestine | 10.5 | Medium |
| Lung | 8.3 | Low |
| Spleen | 6.1 | Low |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HepG2 | 8.7 | Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line |
| Caco-2 | 11.4 | Colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line |
| THP-1 | 9.2 | Monocytic leukemia cell line |
| 3T3-L1 | 14.5 | Adipocyte cell line |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| p.R270H | Missense | 0.5% in European populations | Loss of function; associated with obesity |
| p.R67C | Missense | <0.1% | Reduced receptor activity |
| p.T125I | Missense | <0.1% | Unknown functional effect |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
p.R270H reduces GLP-1 secretion and increases obesity risk
Gain of Function (GOF)
No confirmed gain-of-function mutations reported
Dominant Negative (DN)
Not described for FFAR4
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • G-protein coupled receptor activity | • long-chain fatty acid binding |
| • signal transduction | • positive regulation of insulin secretion |
| • inflammatory response | • glucose homeostasis |
Pathways
• GPCR downstream signaling
• Fatty acid metabolism
• Insulin signaling pathway
• PPAR signaling pathway
Protein Summary
FFAR4 encodes a 377-amino acid G-protein coupled receptor with seven transmembrane domains. It is activated by long-chain fatty acids (C14-C22), particularly omega-3 fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Upon activation, FFAR4 couples to Gαq/11 and β-arrestin-2, leading to intracellular calcium mobilization and anti-inflammatory signaling. The receptor is a therapeutic target for metabolic and inflammatory diseases.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFAR4 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ13475 | Human | 338557 | Details Get a Quote |
| FFAR4 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ59613 | Human | 338557 | Details Get a Quote |
| FFAR4 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ68078 | Human | 338557 | Details Get a Quote |
| FFAR4 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ76454 | Human | 338557 | Details Get a Quote |
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