Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (mVEGF) Mouse Active Protein

This gene is a member of the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family. It encodes a heparin-binding protein, which exists as a disulfide-linked homodimer. This growth factor induces proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells, and is essential for both physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Disruption of this gene in mice resulted in abnormal embryonic blood vessel formation. This gene is upregulated in many known tumors and its expression is correlated with tumor stage and progression. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. There is also evidence for alternative translation initiation from upstream non-AUG (CUG) codons resulting in additional isoforms. A recent study showed that a C-terminally extended isoform is produced by use of an alternative in-frame translation termination codon via a stop codon readthrough mechanism, and that this isoform is antiangiogenic. Expression of some isoforms derived from the AUG start codon is regulated by a small upstream open reading frame, which is located within an internal ribosome entry site.[provided by RefSeq, Nov 2015]

VEGF: Growth factor active in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial cell growth. Induces endothelial cell proliferation, promotes cell migration, inhibits apoptosis and induces permeabilization of blood vessels. Binds to the FLT1/VEGFR1 and KDR/VEGFR2 receptors, heparan sulfate and heparin. NRP1/Neuropilin-1 binds isoforms VEGF-165 and VEGF-145. Isoform VEGF165B binds to KDR but does not activate downstream signaling pathways, does not activate angiogenesis and inhibits tumor growth. Defects in VEGFA are a cause of susceptibility to microvascular complications of diabetes type 1 (MVCD1). These are pathological conditions that develop in numerous tissues and organs as a consequence of diabetes mellitus. They include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy leading to end-stage renal disease, and diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic retinopathy remains the major cause of new-onset blindness among diabetic adults. It is characterized by vascular permeability and increased tissue ischemia and angiogenesis. Belongs to the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family. 13 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative promoter.

Protein type: Motility/polarity/chemotaxis; Cytokine; Secreted; Secreted, signal peptide

Cellular Component: extracellular space; cell surface; membrane; cytoplasm; plasma membrane; extracellular region; basement membrane; secretory granule

Molecular Function: heparin binding; identical protein binding; protein homodimerization activity; growth factor activity; extracellular matrix binding; cytokine activity; platelet-derived growth factor receptor binding; vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 binding; vascular endothelial growth factor receptor binding; receptor agonist activity; protein binding; vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 binding; protein heterodimerization activity; fibronectin binding; receptor binding; chemoattractant activity

Biological Process: heart morphogenesis; positive regulation of cell adhesion; macrophage differentiation; positive regulation of positive chemotaxis; multicellular organismal development; cell maturation; positive regulation of receptor internalization; basophil chemotaxis; regulation of cell shape; positive regulation of MAP kinase activity; positive chemotaxis; positive regulation of mesenchymal cell proliferation; mesoderm development; negative regulation of neuron apoptosis; kidney development; positive regulation of neuroblast proliferation; nervous system development; T-helper 1 type immune response; positive regulation of signal transduction; monocyte differentiation; mRNA stabilization; positive regulation of blood vessel endothelial cell migration; activation of CREB transcription factor; positive regulation of protein amino acid autophosphorylation; positive regulation of vascular permeability; regulation of endothelial cell differentiation; patterning of blood vessels; regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; eye photoreceptor cell development; positive regulation of angiogenesis; positive regulation of peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation; camera-type eye morphogenesis; branching morphogenesis of a tube; cell migration during sprouting angiogenesis; cardiac muscle fiber development; positive regulation of cell division; positive regulation of axon extension involved in axon guidance; activation of protein kinase activity; blood vessel morphogenesis; endothelial cell migration; neuron development; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; positive regulation of endothelial cell proliferation; regulation of cGMP metabolic process; surfactant homeostasis; alveolus development; positive regulation of epithelial cell proliferation; negative regulation of apoptosis; lactation; post-embryonic camera-type eye development; positive regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation; negative regulation of caspase activity; negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; positive regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling pathway; induction of positive chemotaxis; positive regulation of focal adhesion formation; epithelial cell differentiation; ovarian follicle development; vasculature development; lymphangiogenesis; positive regulation of cell proliferation; negative regulation of programmed cell death; angiogenesis; cell differentiation; negative regulation of bone resorption; blood vessel development; cell migration; in utero embryonic development; lumen formation; positive regulation of cell motility; positive regulation of peptidyl-serine phosphorylation; positive regulation of protein kinase B signaling cascade; cell proliferation; positive regulation of protein complex assembly; response to hypoxia; artery morphogenesis; blood vessel remodeling; negative regulation of cell-cell adhesion; positive regulation of protein amino acid phosphorylation; sprouting angiogenesis; vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling pathway; lung development; growth; positive regulation of cell migration