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The NuGOwiki Metabolite Database is a joint initiative of NuGO and HMDB
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| ASP | |
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| [[Image:{{{Image}}}|thumb|220px|2D structure for ASP]] | |
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| Chemical Information | |
| Biochemical Taxonomy | |
| Functional Taxonomy | |
| Nutritional Taxonomy | |
| Metabolic Pathways | |
| Biofluid Location | |
| Tissue Location | |
| Normal Biofluid Concentrations | |
| Normal Tissue Concentrations | |
| Diseases / Conditions Related to Nutrition | |
| Other (Monogenic Disorders) | |
| Abnormal Biofluid Concentrations | |
| Abnormal Tissue Concentrations | |
| Physiological Processes | |
| Authors: | L. Pellis |
| Affiliations: | TNO, the Netherlands |
Contents |
Introduction
Sequence analysis demonstrated that the coding region of the human homolog of the mouse agouti gene is 85% identical to that of the mouse gene and has the potential to encode a protein of 132 amino acids with a consensus signal peptide. Expression of the human agouti gene was detected in adipose tissue, heart, and testis, suggesting a role in a variety of processes including skin pigmentation, cardiovascular function, and energy metabolism. In addition, the observation of agouti expression in premenopausal but not postmenopausal ovaries suggested a role for the agouti protein in fertility as well. Observations of elevated intracellular calcium ion levels in tissues from hypertensive, obese, and diabetic patients suggest that the agouti protein may be a common link between these diseases. The level of expression of the agouti gene may be dictated by a series of alleles in the human population that can predispose individuals to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and/or diabetes.
Biological Function
Involved in the regulation of melanogenesis. The binding of ASP to MC1R precludes alpha-MSH initiated signaling and thus blocks production of cAMP, leading to a down-regulation of eumelanogenesis (brown/black pigment) and thus increasing synthesis of pheomelanin (yellow/red pigment). In higher primates, agouti may affect the quality of hair pigmentation rather than its pattern of deposition. Could well play a role in neuroendocrine aspects of melanocortin action. May have some functional role in regulating the lipid metabolism with adipocytes.
Recommended name:
Agouti-signaling protein, ASP
Alternative name(s):
Agouti switch protein
Catabolism
Diseases / Conditions Related to Nutrition
Associated decreased protein/metabolite profile
Associated increased protein/metabolite profile
Other (Monogenic) Disorders
Nutritional Information
Drivers for biological variation