A2M Gene plays an important role in the study of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides comprehensive information about this topic, including its mechanisms, significance in disease processes, and therapeutic implications.
A2M Gene is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
A2M (Alpha-2-Macroglobulin) is a gene encoding the protein alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), a large plasma glycoproteinase inhibitor. A2M has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk through genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Gene Symbol | A2M |
| Full Name | Alpha-2-Macroglobulin |
| Chromosomal Location | 12p13.31 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 2 |
| OMIM ID | 104150 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000108349 |
| UniProt ID | P01023 |
Alpha-2-macroglobulin is a homotetramer of approximately 720 kDa. It is synthesized in the liver and secreted into the plasma. A2M is a broad-spectrum proteinase inhibitor that can trap a wide variety of proteases within its structure.
A2M functions as a:
In the central nervous system, A2M is produced by astrocytes and can cross the blood-brain barrier. It may play a role in clearing proteases and damaged proteins from the brain.
A2M has been associated with Alzheimer's disease risk through multiple GWAS studies. The A2M deletion polymorphism (A2M-2) has been linked to:
The mechanism involves:
A2M is highly expressed in:
In the brain, A2M expression is upregulated in response to inflammation and aging.
A2M Gene plays an important role in the study of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides comprehensive information about this topic, including its mechanisms, significance in disease processes, and therapeutic implications.
The study of A2M Gene has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Blacker et al. (2003) - "Alpha-2-macroglobulin is genetically associated with Alzheimer disease" - Nature Genetics. DOI:10.1038/ng1171
Koster et al. (2013) - "Alpha-2-macroglobulin in the brain" - Progress in Neurobiology. DOI:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.01.003
Van Gool et al. (2001) - "Alpha-2-macroglobulin in Alzheimer's disease" - Neurobiology of Aging.
A2M represents a potential therapeutic target for AD: