WISP1 Proteins

Protein Information

This gene encodes a member of the WNT1 inducible signaling pathway (WISP) protein subfamily, which belongs to the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) family. WNT1 is a member of a family of cysteine-rich, glycosylated signaling proteins that mediate diverse developmental processes. The CTGF family members are characterized by four conserved cysteine-rich domains: insulin-like growth factor-binding domain, von Willebrand factor type C module, thrombospondin domain and C-terminal cystine knot-like domain. This gene may be downstream in the WNT1 signaling pathway that is relevant to malignant transformation. It is expressed at a high level in fibroblast cells, and overexpressed in colon tumors. The encoded protein binds to decorin and biglycan, two members of a family of small leucine-rich proteoglycans present in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue, and possibly prevents the inhibitory activity of decorin and biglycan in tumor cell proliferation. It also attenuates p53-mediated apoptosis in response to DNA damage through activation of the Akt kinase. It is 83% identical to the mouse protein at the amino acid level. Alternative splicing of this gene generates 2 transcript variants.

Synonyms

AW146261; CCN family member 4; Ccn4; CTC-458A3.8; Elm1; ELM-1; Wisp1; WISP-1; WISP1c; WISP1i; WISP1tc; WNT1 induced secreted protein 1; WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1; Wnt-1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1; Wnt-1-induced secreted protein; WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 1