| WAVE1 (WASP Family Verprolin Homologous Protein 1) | |
|---|---|
| Gene | [WASF1](/genes/wasf1) |
| UniProt ID | [Q92558](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q92558) |
| PDB | 3P8C, 6TME |
| Molecular Weight | 63.6 kDa |
| Localization | Cytoplasm, growth cones, synapses |
| Family | WASP/WAVE family of actin regulators |
| Disease | AD, ASD, Schizophrenia |
WAVE1 (WASP family verprolin homologous protein 1) is a key regulator of actin cytoskeleton dynamics that activates the Arp2/3 complex to nucleate branched actin networks. WAVE1 is highly expressed in neurons and plays critical roles in neurite outgrowth, dendritic spine formation, and synaptic plasticity. Dysregulation of WAVE1 contributes to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
WAVE1 has several functional domains:
WAVE regulatory complex (WRC)[1]:
WAVE1 regulates actin polymerization:
Activation pathway:
WAVE1 in AD[2]:
Mechanisms:
WAVE1 implicated in ASD:
WAVE1 in psychiatric disorders:
| Strategy | Mechanism | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rac activators | Upstream WAVE activation | Preclinical |
| Arp2/3 activators | Downstream of WAVE | Research |
| Actin stabilizers | Support cytoskeleton | Preclinical |
| Synaptic enhancers | Boost WAVE signaling | Research |
Chen et al. WAVE regulatory complex structure. 2010. ↩︎
Sells et al. WAVE1 in synaptic function. J Neurosci. 2003. ↩︎