The ABHD6 gene encodes a lipase enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of medium-chain saturated monoacylglycerols such as 2-arachidonoylglycerol. By controlling the accumulation of 2-arachidonoylglycerol at the cannabinoid receptors, it is involved in the regulation of endocannabinoid signaling pathways. ABHD6 also has phospholipase activity, and is involved in the catabolism of lysophosphatidylglycerol. Based on orthologue studies, the ABHD6 protein has also been implicated in the negative regulation of cell migration and long term synaptic depression.
The enzyme is an integral membrane protein consisting of a conserved alpha/beta-hydrolase domain (ABHD), an N-terminal signal sequence and two transmembrane domains. The residues ser148, asp278, and his306 form a catalytic triad that is required for enzyme function.