| N-WASP Protein | |
|---|---|
| Gene | [WASL](/entities/wasl) (WASP Like) |
| UniProt ID | [O00401](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O00401) |
| Alternative Names | N-WASP, Neural Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein |
| Molecular Weight | 55 kDa |
| Subcellular Localization | Cytosol, plasma membrane, lamellipodia, filopodia |
| Protein Family | Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family |
| PDB Structures | [1N5L](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/entry/pdb/1n5l), [1MJC](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/entry/pdb/1mjc) |
N-WASP (Neural Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein) is a member of the WASP family that regulates actin cytoskeleton polymerization through Arp2/3 complex activation. It is ubiquitously expressed with highest levels in neuronal tissue. N-WASP is critical for neuronal development, including migration, axon guidance, and dendritic spine formation. It is implicated in various neurological disorders and cancers[1].
N-WASP contains multiple functional domains:
The protein is constitutively active due to lack of autoinhibitory mechanisms present in WASp[2].
In neurons, N-WASP is essential for:
N-WASP-targeted strategies include:
No N-WASP-targeted drugs are currently in clinical trials[4].
Miki et al. N-WASP in actin organization (1998). Journal of Cell Biology.
Takenawa & Suetsugu. The WASP-WAVE protein network (2007). Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology.
Legg et al. N-WASP in neuronal development (2007). Journal of Cell Science.
Miki et al. N-WASP regulates actin organization. Journal of Cell Biology. 1998. ↩︎
Takenawa & Suetsugu. The WASP-WAVE protein network. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 2007. ↩︎
Legg et al. N-WASP in neuronal development. Journal of Cell Science. 2007. ↩︎
Burute & Thery. Spatial regulation of actin polymerization. Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 2012. ↩︎