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| VASP |
|---|
| Gene Symbol | VASP |
| Full Name | Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein |
| Aliases | ENAH, VASP |
| Chromosomal Location | 19q13.2 |
| Gene Type | Protein coding |
| NCBI Gene ID | [7408](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/7408) |
| OMIM | [193530](https://omim.org/entry/193530) |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000125753 |
| UniProt ID | [P50552](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P50552) |
| Associated Diseases | [Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimer's-disease), [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinson's-disease), [ALS](/diseases/ALS), Stroke, Spinal cord injury |
VASP (Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein) is an actin-binding protein that regulates actin dynamics, cell adhesion, and cell migration. It belongs to the Ena/VASP family which includes VASP, EVL, and Mena (ENAH). VASP plays critical roles in neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and neuroprotection.
VASP contains several functional domains:
- EVH1 domain: Binds to EVH1-binding motifs (D/E)FPPPP
- EVH2 domain: Responsible for actin binding and multimerization
- Proline-rich region: Interactions with SH3-containing proteins
In the nervous system, VASP/ENAH is crucial for:
- Axon guidance: Regulation of growth cone dynamics
- Dendritic spine formation: Controls spine morphology
- Synaptic plasticity: Modulates synaptic vesicle trafficking
- Neuronal migration: During brain development
- Actin cytoskeleton: Maintains neuronal architecture
VASP is regulated by:
- cAMP/PKA pathway: Phosphorylation by PKA
- cGMP/PKG pathway: Phosphorylation by PKG
- Rho GTPases: Regulation of actin dynamics
- Calcium signaling: Calmodulin-dependent regulation
- Synaptic dysfunction: VASP deficiency affects spine density
- Amyloid-beta toxicity: Alters neuronal responses to Aβ
- Tau pathology: Phosphorylation changes in AD brains
- Cognitive deficits: Correlates with memory impairment
- Dopaminergic neuron survival: VASP protects against toxicity
- Axonal degeneration: Role in Lewy body formation
- Mitochondrial dysfunction: Interaction with PINK1/Parkin pathway
- Axonal transport: VASP mutations affect cytoskeletal function
- Motor neuron vulnerability: Altered dynamics in ALS models
- Glutamate excitotoxicity: Interaction with synaptic proteins
- Stroke: Upregulated in response to ischemia
- Spinal cord injury: Role in axonal regeneration
- Traumatic brain injury: Affects neuronal repair
VASP is widely expressed in the nervous system:
Regional distribution includes cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and spinal cord.
- VASP agonists: Being developed for neuroprotection
- ENAH modulators: Target synaptic dysfunction
- Actin cytoskeleton stabilizers: Therapeutic potential
- Phosphorylated VASP as indicator of neuronal stress
- VASP in extracellular vesicles as neurodegeneration marker