ACTA2

ACTA2

ACTA2

Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens


ACTA2 (actin alpha 2) is an actin protein with several aliases including alpha-actin, alpha-actin-2, aortic smooth muscle or alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, SMactin, alpha-SM-actin, ASMA). Actins are a family of globular multi-functional proteins that form microfilaments. ACTA2 is one of 6 different actin isoforms and is involved in the contractile apparatus of smooth muscle. ACTA2 (as with all the actins) is extremely highly conserved and found in nearly all mammals.

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In humans, ACTA2 is encoded by the ACTA2 gene located on 10q22-q24.[5][6] Mutations in this gene cause a variety of vascular diseases, such as thoracic aortic disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, Moyamoya disease, and multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome.[5]

ACTA2 (commonly referred to as alpha-smooth muscle actin or α-SMA) is often used as a marker of myofibroblast formation.[7] Studies have shown that ACTA2 is associated with TGF-β pathway that enhances contractile properties of hepatic stellate cells leading to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.[8]


References

  1. "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  2. "Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  3. Ueyama H, Bruns G, Kanda N (June 1990). "Assignment of the vascular smooth muscle actin gene ACTSA to human chromosome 10". Jinrui Idengaku Zasshi. The Japanese Journal of Human Genetics. 35 (2): 145–50. doi:10.1007/BF01876459. PMID 2398629.
  4. Nagamoto T, Eguchi G, Beebe DC (April 2000). "Alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in cultured lens epithelial cells". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 41 (5): 1122–9. PMID 10752950.

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