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FLASH GENE
Symbol VGF contributors: mct - updated : 05-11-2018
HGNC name VGF nerve growth factor inducible
HGNC id 12684
Location 7q22.1      Physical location : 100.805.790 - 100.808.852
Synonym name
  • neurotrophin responsive factor
  • neuro-endocrine specific protein VGF
  • neurosecretory protein VGF
  • neuro-endocrine regulatory peptide 2
  • neuro-endocrine regulatory peptide 1
  • Synonym symbol(s) NERP1, NERP2, SCG7, SgVII
    DNA
    TYPE like-sequence
    SPECIAL FEATURE arranged in tandem, head to head
    STRUCTURE 3.06 kb     2 Exon(s)
    10 Kb 5' upstream gene genomic sequence study
    regulatory sequence Promoter
    text structure . a TATA box and a CCAAT box located at canonical distances from the transcription start site
  • several consensus sequences for different transcription factors, including a cyclic AMP response element and an AP-1 element, several GC boxes, and sequences homologous to other neuronal promoters
  • MAPPING cloned Y linked   status provisional
    RNA
    TRANSCRIPTS type messenger
    identificationnb exonstypebpproduct
    ProteinkDaAAspecific expressionYearPubmed
    2 - 2586 - 615 - 2012 23111332
    - - - 2.7 26 - 2012 23111332
  • amidated prior to secretion
  • derived from VGF amino acids 281–306
  • - - - 4.1 38 abundantly expressed in endocrine cells in peripheral tissues, in the hypothalamus and in pancreatic islets 2012 23111332
  • amidated prior to secretion
  • derived from a distinct portion of VGF, amino acids 310–347
  • increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in a dose-dependent manner
  • directly acts on beta-cells to stimulate insulin secretion by increasing intracellular calcium concentration
  • EXPRESSION
    Type widely
       expressed in (based on citations)
    organ(s)
    SystemOrgan level 1Organ level 2Organ level 3Organ level 4LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
    Endocrinepancreas   highly
    Nervousbrain     Homo sapiens
    Skin/Tegumentskin   highly
    cells
    SystemCellPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
    Nervousneuron Homo sapiens
    cell lineage
    cell lines
    fluid/secretion
    at STAGE
    PROTEIN
    PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    STRUCTURE
    motifs/domains
  • a 22-amino acid signal sequence
  • C terminal region encoding posttranslationaly processed peptides
  • HOMOLOGY
    Homologene
    FAMILY
  • secretogranin/chromogranin family
  • CATEGORY signaling growth factor
    SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION     intracellular
    intracellular,cytoplasm,organelle,lumen
    intracellular,cytoplasm,organelle,endoplasmic reticulum
    intracellular,cytoplasm,organelle,Golgi
    intracellular,cytoplasm,cytosolic,vesicle
    text stored in and released from secretory vesicles (Chakraborty 2006)
    basic FUNCTION
  • play roles in the regulation of body weight, feeding, and energy expenditure (Chakraborty 2006)
  • VGF may act downstream of BDNF and exert its effects as an antidepressant-like agent by enhancing neurogenesis in the hippocampus
  • VGF and/or VGF-derived peptides modulate sympathetic outflow pathways to regulate fat storage and energy expenditure
  • role of VGF in mood disorders
  • multiplicity of roles for VGF peptides, including endocrine functions, local intercellular communication, as well as the possible mediation of intracellular mechanisms
  • plays a role in energy homeostasis and promotes growth and survival
  • age-dependent increase in VGF-expression could serve as mechanism that counterregulates the decrease in functionality of T lymphocytes
  • contributes to survival and function of peripheral T cells
  • plays an important role in the maintenance of organismal energy balance and in the mediation of hippocampal synaptic activity
  • hypothalamic VGF responds to environmental demands and plays an important role in energy balance and glycemic control likely acting in the melanocortin pathway downstream of BDNF
  • promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, as well as synaptic activity
  • enhances dendritic maturation and these effects can be altered by common mutations in the VGF gene
  • is a neuropeptide which is expressed in neuronal cells and endocrine cells
  • CELLULAR PROCESS
    PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS
    PATHWAY
    metabolism
    signaling
    a component
    INTERACTION
    DNA
    RNA
    small molecule
    protein
    cell & other
    REGULATION
    Other with PCSK1N, are differentially regulated in the brain by diet and cold stress (Chakraborty 2006)
    VGF expression under continuous stress (CS) is negatively regulated by dopaminergic neurons projecting from the hypothalamus
    ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
    corresponding disease(s)
    Other morbid association(s)
    TypeGene ModificationChromosome rearrangementProtein expressionProtein Function
    constitutional       gain of function
    may be implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and abnormalities of dopaminergic signaling
    constitutional     --over  
    increased in cerebrospinal fluid and blood in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer disease (AD)
    constitutional     --low  
    cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) levels of VGF decreases with muscle weakness in patients with ALS
    constitutional     --low  
    in frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
    Susceptibility
    Variant & Polymorphism
    Candidate gene
    Marker
  • is a potential biomarker for AD
  • could be a more specific biomarker for antidepressant treatment responsiveness
  • VGF may be a reliable biomarker of progression of muscle weakness in patients with ALS
  • Therapy target
    SystemTypeDisorderPubmed
    neurologyataxia 
    VGF delivery could represent a therapeutic strategy for cerebellar ataxia and other pathologies of the CNS
    ANIMAL & CELL MODELS