ectodysplasin A
Last updated 18 Aug 2020
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The EDA gene provides instructions for making a protein called ectodysplasin A. This protein is part of a signaling pathway that plays an important role in development before birth. Specifically, it is critical for interactions between two embryonic cell layers called the ectoderm and the mesoderm. In the early embryo, these cell layers form the basis for many of the body's organs and tissues. Ectoderm-mesoderm interactions are essential for the formation of several structures that arise from the ectoderm, including the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and sweat glands.
Normal function
The EDA gene provides instructions for making a protein called ectodysplasin A. This protein is part of a signaling pathway that plays an important role in development before birth. Specifically, it is critical for interactions between two embryonic cell layers called the ectoderm and the mesoderm. In the early embryo, these cell layers form the basis for many of the body's organs and tissues. Ectoderm-mesoderm interactions are essential for the formation of several structures that arise from the ectoderm, including the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and sweat glands.
One version of the ectodysplasin A protein, known as ectodysplasin A1, interacts with a protein called the ectodysplasin A receptor (produced from the EDAR gene). On the cell surface, ectodysplasin A1 attaches to this receptor like a key in a lock. When these two proteins are connected, they trigger a series of chemical signals that affect cell activities such as division, growth, and maturation. Starting before birth, this signaling pathway controls the formation of ectodermal structures such as hair follicles, sweat glands, and teeth.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
Ectodermal dysplasia protein
ectodysplasin
ectodysplasin-A
ED1
ED1-A1
EDA-A1
EDA-A2
EDA1
EDA_HUMAN
HED
XHED
XLHED
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Further reading and references
- ectodysplasin A; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Cluzeau C, Hadj-Rabia S, Jambou M, Mansour S, Guigue P, Masmoudi S, Bal E, Chassaing N, Vincent MC, Viot G, Clauss F, Maniere MC, Toupenay S, Le Merrer M, Lyonnet S, Cormier-Daire V, Amiel J, Faivre L, de Prost Y, Munnich A, Bonnefont JP, Bodemer C, Smahi A. Only four genes (EDA1, EDAR, EDARADD, and WNT10A) account for 90% of hypohidrotic/anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia cases. Hum Mutat. 2011 Jan;32(1):70-2. doi: 10.1002/humu.21384.
- Han D, Gong Y, Wu H, Zhang X, Yan M, Wang X, Qu H, Feng H, Song S. Novel EDA mutation resulting in X-linked non-syndromic hypodontia and the pattern of EDA-associated isolated tooth agenesis. Eur J Med Genet. 2008 Nov-Dec;51(6):536-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2008.06.002. Epub 2008 Jul 9.
- Kowalczyk-Quintas C, Schneider P. Ectodysplasin A (EDA) - EDA receptor signalling and its pharmacological modulation. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2014 Apr;25(2):195-203. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2014.01.004. Epub 2014 Jan 23.
- Song S, Han D, Qu H, Gong Y, Wu H, Zhang X, Zhong N, Feng H. EDA gene mutations underlie non-syndromic oligodontia. J Dent Res. 2009 Feb;88(2):126-31. doi: 10.1177/0022034508328627.
- Tarpey P, Pemberton TJ, Stockton DW, Das P, Ninis V, Edkins S, Andrew Futreal P, Wooster R, Kamath S, Nayak R, Stratton MR, Patel PI. A novel Gln358Glu mutation in ectodysplasin A associated with X-linked dominant incisor hypodontia. Am J Med Genet A. 2007 Feb 15;143(4):390-4. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.31567. No abstract available.
- Vincent MC, Biancalana V, Ginisty D, Mandel JL, Calvas P. Mutational spectrum of the ED1 gene in X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. Eur J Hum Genet. 2001 May;9(5):355-63. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5200635.
- Wisniewski SA, Kobielak A, Trzeciak WH, Kobielak K. Recent advances in understanding of the molecular basis of anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: discovery of a ligand, ectodysplasin A and its two receptors. J Appl Genet. 2002;43(1):97-107.
- Wohlfart S, Hammersen J, Schneider H. Mutational spectrum in 101 patients with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and breakpoint mapping in independent cases of rare genomic rearrangements. J Hum Genet. 2016 Oct;61(10):891-897. doi: 10.1038/jhg.2016.75. Epub 2016 Jun 16.
- Wright JT, Grange DK, Fete M. Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia. 2003 Apr 28 [updated 2025 Mar 20]. 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/NBK1112/
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