VEGFA
LOCUS ID7422
GENE_SYMBOLVEGFA
GENE NAMEvascular endothelial growth factor A
SYNONYMNSVPF, VEGF, MVCD1
CHROMOSOME6
HOMOLOGENE ID2534
GENE SUMMARY
This gene is a member of the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family and encodes a protein that is often found as a disulfide linked homodimer. This protein is a glycosylated mitogen that specifically acts on endothelial cells and has various effects, including mediating increased vascular permeability, inducing angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial cell growth, promoting cell migration, and inhibiting apoptosis. Elevated levels of this protein is linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Altertively spliced transcript variants, encoding either freely secreted or cell-associated isoforms, have been characterized. There is also evidence for the use of non-AUG (CUG) translation initiation sites upstream of, and in-frame with the first AUG, leading to additiol isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]