ALKAL2: A Protein Involved in Brain Development, Function and Disease

Target Name: ALKAL2

NCBI ID: G285016

ALKAL2: A Protein Involved in Brain Development, Function and Disease

ALKAL2 (AUGA) is a protein that is expressed in various tissues of the body, including the brain, heart, liver, and kidney. It is a member of the ALK-Fc domain family, which is a subfamily of the protein tyrosine kinase family. ALKAL2 is known for its role in the regulation of cellular processes that are important for brain development, function, and disease.

The ALKAL2 protein is composed of 254 amino acid residues and has a calculated molecular weight of 30.1 kDa. It is expressed in a variety of tissues, including the brain, where it is found in the postsynaptic density of neurons, the heart, where it is found in the cardiac muscle, the liver, where it is found in the hepatocytes, and the kidney, where it is found in the podocytes.

One of the key functions of the ALKAL2 protein is its role in the regulation of neurotransmitter release from neurons. ALKAL2 is known to be involved in the regulation of the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and endothelial nitric oxide, which are important for the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system.

In addition to its role in neurotransmitter release, ALKAL2 is also involved in the regulation of cellular processes that are important for brain development and function. For example, ALKAL2 is known to be involved in the regulation of neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are produced in the brain. It is also involved in the regulation of neuron survival and differentiation, as well as the regulation of synaptic plasticity, the ability of the brain to change and adapt over time.

The ALKAL2 protein is also of interest as a potential drug target. due to its role in the regulation of neurotransmitter release and cellular processes that are important for brain development and function, ALKAL2 may be a useful target for the treatment of a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. For example, ALKAL2 has been shown to be involved in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, and may be a useful target for these disorders.

Furthermore, ALKAL2 may also be used as a biomarker for certain diseases. For example, ALKAL2 has been shown to be elevated in the blood of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by the progressive loss of brain cells. Additionally, ALKAL2 has been shown to be elevated in the blood of individuals with Parkinson's disease, a motor neuron disorder that is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the brain.

In conclusion, ALKAL2 is a protein that is expressed in various tissues of the body and is involved in the regulation of cellular processes that are important for brain development, function, and disease. It is of interest as a potential drug target and as a biomarker for the treatment of a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of ALKAL2 in the regulation of cellular processes and its potential as a drug and biomarker.

Protein Name: ALK And LTK Ligand 2

Functions: Cytokine that acts as a physiological ligand for receptor tyrosine kinases LTK and ALK, leading to their activation (PubMed:26418745, PubMed:26630010, PubMed:30061385, PubMed:33411331, PubMed:34646012, PubMed:34819673). Cytokine-binding is sufficient to activate LTK (PubMed:34646012). In contrast, ALKAL2-driven activation of ALK is coupled with heparin-binding to ALK (PubMed:34646012). Stimulation of ALK signaling is involved in neural development and regulation of energy expenditure (PubMed:34646012, PubMed:34819673)

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