actin alpha 2, smooth muscle
Last updated 1 Jul 2022
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The ACTA2 gene provides instructions for making a protein called smooth muscle alpha (α)-2 actin, which is part of the actin protein family. Actin proteins are important for cell movement and the tensing (contraction) of muscles.
Normal function
The ACTA2 gene provides instructions for making a protein called smooth muscle alpha (α)-2 actin, which is part of the actin protein family. Actin proteins are important for cell movement and the tensing (contraction) of muscles.
Smooth muscle α-2 actin is found in smooth muscle cells. Smooth muscles line the internal organs, including the blood vessels, stomach, and intestines. Within smooth muscle cells, smooth muscle α-2 actin forms the core of structures called sarcomeres, which are necessary for muscles to contract. Smooth muscles contract and relax as part of their normal function without being consciously controlled.
Layers of smooth muscle cells are found in the walls of the arteries, which are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Smooth muscle α-2 actin contributes to the ability of these muscles to contract, which allows the arteries to maintain their shape instead of stretching out as blood is pumped through them.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
AAT6
ACTA_HUMAN
actin, aortic smooth muscle
ACTSA
alpha 2 actin
alpha-actin-2
cell growth-inhibiting gene 46 protein
growth-inhibiting gene 46
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Further reading and references
- actin alpha 2, smooth muscle; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- El-Hamamsy I, Yacoub MH. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of thoracic aortic aneurysms. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2009 Dec;6(12):771-86. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2009.191. Epub 2009 Nov 3.
- Grond-Ginsbach C, Pjontek R, Aksay SS, Hyhlik-Durr A, Bockler D, Gross-Weissmann ML. Spontaneous arterial dissection: phenotype and molecular pathogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2010 Jun;67(11):1799-815. doi: 10.1007/s00018-010-0276-z. Epub 2010 Feb 14.
- Guo DC, Pannu H, Tran-Fadulu V, Papke CL, Yu RK, Avidan N, Bourgeois S, Estrera AL, Safi HJ, Sparks E, Amor D, Ades L, McConnell V, Willoughby CE, Abuelo D, Willing M, Lewis RA, Kim DH, Scherer S, Tung PP, Ahn C, Buja LM, Raman CS, Shete SS, Milewicz DM. Mutations in smooth muscle alpha-actin (ACTA2) lead to thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. Nat Genet. 2007 Dec;39(12):1488-93. doi: 10.1038/ng.2007.6. Epub 2007 Nov 11.
- Jondeau G, Boileau C. Genetics of thoracic aortic aneurysms. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2012 Jun;14(3):219-26. doi: 10.1007/s11883-012-0241-4.
- Milewicz DM, Carlson AA, Regalado ES. Genetic testing in aortic aneurysm disease: PRO. Cardiol Clin. 2010 May;28(2):191-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ccl.2010.01.017.
- Milewicz DM, Cecchi AC. Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease Overview. 2003 Feb 13 [updated 2023 May 4]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1120/
- Milewicz DM, Guo DC, Tran-Fadulu V, Lafont AL, Papke CL, Inamoto S, Kwartler CS, Pannu H. Genetic basis of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections: focus on smooth muscle cell contractile dysfunction. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2008;9:283-302. doi: 10.1146/annurev.genom.8.080706.092303.
- Milewicz DM, Ostergaard JR, Ala-Kokko LM, Khan N, Grange DK, Mendoza-Londono R, Bradley TJ, Olney AH, Ades L, Maher JF, Guo D, Buja LM, Kim D, Hyland JC, Regalado ES. De novo ACTA2 mutation causes a novel syndrome of multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction. Am J Med Genet A. 2010 Oct;152A(10):2437-43. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.33657.
- Morisaki H, Akutsu K, Ogino H, Kondo N, Yamanaka I, Tsutsumi Y, Yoshimuta T, Okajima T, Matsuda H, Minatoya K, Sasaki H, Tanaka H, Ishibashi-Ueda H, Morisaki T. Mutation of ACTA2 gene as an important cause of familial and nonfamilial nonsyndromatic thoracic aortic aneurysm and/or dissection (TAAD). Hum Mutat. 2009 Oct;30(10):1406-11. doi: 10.1002/humu.21081.
- Pyeritz RE. Heritable thoracic aortic disorders. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2014 Jan;29(1):97-102. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000023.
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