Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/cpt2/

CPT2 gene

carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2

Normal Function

The CPT2 gene provides instructions for making an enzyme called carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2. This enzyme is essential for fatty acid oxidation, a multistep process that breaks down (metabolizes) fats and converts them into energy. Fatty acid oxidation takes place within mitochondria, which are the energy-producing centers in cells. A group of fats called long-chain fatty acids must be attached to a substance known as carnitine to enter mitochondria. Once these fatty acids are inside mitochondria, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 removes the carnitine and adds a substance called coenzyme A. Long-chain fatty acids must be joined to coenzyme A before they can be metabolized to produce energy. Fatty acids are a major source of energy for the heart and muscles. During periods of fasting, fatty acids are also an important energy source for the liver and other tissues.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency

More than 70 mutations in the CPT2 gene have been found to cause carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) deficiency. These mutations lead to reduced activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2. Mutations that lead to extremely reduced enzyme activity typically cause the more severe forms of CPT II deficiency (a lethal neonatal form and a severe infantile hepatocardiomuscular form), while those that result in partially reduced enzyme activity usually lead to a less severe myopathic form of the disorder. The most common CPT2 gene mutation replaces the protein building block (amino acid) serine with the amino acid leucine at position 113 (written as Ser113Leu or S113L) in the enzyme. This mutation accounts for about 60 percent of the mutations that cause the myopathic form of CPT II deficiency.

Without enough functioning carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2, long-chain fatty acids are not properly processed after they enter mitochondria and cannot be metabolized to produce energy. Reduced energy production can lead to some of the features of CPT II deficiency, such as muscle pain and weakness, low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), and low levels of the products of fat breakdown (hypoketosis). Fatty acids and long-chain acylcarnitines (fatty acids still attached to carnitine) may also build up in cells and damage the liver, heart, and muscles. This abnormal buildup causes the other signs and symptoms of the disorder.

More About This Health Condition

Other Names for This Gene

  • CPT II
  • CPT2_HUMAN
  • CPTASE

Additional Information & Resources

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

Scientific Articles on PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Gene and Variant Databases

References

  • Corti S, Bordoni A, Ronchi D, Musumeci O, Aguennouz M, Toscano A, Lamperti C, Bresolin N, Comi GP. Clinical features and new molecular findings in Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) deficiency. J Neurol Sci. 2008 Mar 15;266(1-2):97-103. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2007.09.015. Epub 2007 Oct 23. Citation on PubMed
  • Deschauer M, Wieser T, Zierz S. Muscle carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency: clinical and molecular genetic features and diagnostic aspects. Arch Neurol. 2005 Jan;62(1):37-41. doi: 10.1001/archneur.62.1.37. Citation on PubMed
  • Illsinger S, Lucke T, Peter M, Ruiter JP, Wanders RJ, Deschauer M, Handig I, Wuyts W, Das AM. Carnitine-palmitoyltransferase 2 deficiency: novel mutations and relevance of newborn screening. Am J Med Genet A. 2008 Nov 15;146A(22):2925-8. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.32545. Citation on PubMed
  • Isackson PJ, Bennett MJ, Lichter-Konecki U, Willis M, Nyhan WL, Sutton VR, Tein I, Vladutiu GD. CPT2 gene mutations resulting in lethal neonatal or severe infantile carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency. Mol Genet Metab. 2008 Aug;94(4):422-427. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2008.05.002. Epub 2008 Jun 11. Citation on PubMed
  • Longo N, Amat di San Filippo C, Pasquali M. Disorders of carnitine transport and the carnitine cycle. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2006 May 15;142C(2):77-85. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30087. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Olpin SE, Afifi A, Clark S, Manning NJ, Bonham JR, Dalton A, Leonard JV, Land JM, Andresen BS, Morris AA, Muntoni F, Turnbull D, Pourfarzam M, Rahman S, Pollitt RJ. Mutation and biochemical analysis in carnitine palmitoyltransferase type II (CPT II) deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2003;26(6):543-57. doi: 10.1023/a:1025947930752. Citation on PubMed
  • Orngreen MC, Duno M, Ejstrup R, Christensen E, Schwartz M, Sacchetti M, Vissing J. Fuel utilization in subjects with carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 gene mutations. Ann Neurol. 2005 Jan;57(1):60-6. doi: 10.1002/ana.20320. Citation on PubMed
  • Ramsay RR, Zammit VA. Carnitine acyltransferases and their influence on CoA pools in health and disease. Mol Aspects Med. 2004 Oct-Dec;25(5-6):475-93. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2004.06.002. Citation on PubMed
  • Sigauke E, Rakheja D, Kitson K, Bennett MJ. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency: a clinical, biochemical, and molecular review. Lab Invest. 2003 Nov;83(11):1543-54. doi: 10.1097/01.lab.0000098428.51765.83. Citation on PubMed

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.