VGF Nerve Growth Factor
Introduction
<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">VGF Nerve Growth Factor</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Peptide</td>
<td>Sequence</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">TLQP-62</td>
<td>TLQPDSGHFPQPF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">AQEE-30</td>
<td>AQEELHSGFDQRY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">LQEQ-19</td>
<td>LQEQELHRLQEF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/ad" style="color:#ef9a9a">AD</a>, <a href="/wiki/ali" style="color:#ef9a9a">ALI</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer's-disease" style="color:#ef9a9a">ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE</a>, <a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">Als</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">71 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
Vgf Nerve Growth Factor is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Overview
...VGF Nerve Growth Factor
Introduction
<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">VGF Nerve Growth Factor</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Peptide</td>
<td>Sequence</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">TLQP-62</td>
<td>TLQPDSGHFPQPF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">AQEE-30</td>
<td>AQEELHSGFDQRY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">LQEQ-19</td>
<td>LQEQELHRLQEF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/ad" style="color:#ef9a9a">AD</a>, <a href="/wiki/ali" style="color:#ef9a9a">ALI</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer's-disease" style="color:#ef9a9a">ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE</a>, <a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">Als</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">71 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
Vgf Nerve Growth Factor is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Overview
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)
VGF (VGF Nerve Growth Factor Inducible) is a neuropeptide precursor protein that plays important roles in neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and energy homeostasis. VGF is induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) and is expressed in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is processed into multiple bioactive peptides that regulate mood, appetite, and synaptic function. [@thakkervaria2007]
This protein is involved in: [@ozaki2011]
- Neuronal development: Promotes neuronal survival and differentiation
- Synaptic plasticity: Regulates synaptic function and memory formation
- Energy homeostasis: Controls appetite and metabolism
- Disease associations: Alzheimer's disease, depression, cachexia, neurodegenerative disorders
VGF (non-acronymic) is a
neurotrophic factor and neuropeptide precursor protein that plays critical roles in neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, energy homeostasis, and neuroprotection. It is a key therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's Disease and major depression. [@damato2012]
Structure
Gene and Protein Overview
- Gene Symbol: VGF
- Gene ID: 5139
- Chromosome: 7q22.1
- Protein Length: 617 amino acids
- Molecular Weight: ~68 kDa
- UniProt ID: Q9UK23
- PDB Structures: 2L8N, 2LQH (peptide fragments)
VGF is synthesized as a precursor protein that is proteolytically processed into multiple bioactive peptides, including TLQP-62, AQEE-30, and LQEQ-19. The protein contains a signal peptide for secretion and multiple cleavage sites for prohormone convertases.
Domain Organization
- Signal peptide (aa 1-23): Targets protein for secretory pathway
- Propeptide region (aa 24-83): Contains cleavage sites
- VGF mature region (aa 84-617): Contains multiple bioactive peptide sequences
- TLQP-62 domain: Most abundant VGF-derived peptide
- AQEE-30 domain: Involved in energy metabolism
- LQEQ-19 domain: Associated with synaptic function
Normal Function
Neurotrophic Activity
VGF is classified as a member of the
neurotrophin family, closely related to NGF, BDNF, and NT-3. It promotes:
- Neuronal survival during development
- Synaptic plasticity and formation
- Axonal growth and regeneration
- Dendritic arborization
Energy Homeostasis
VGF plays a crucial role in regulating energy balance through:
- Leptin-independent appetite regulation
- Mitochondrial function in [neurons](/entities/neurons)
- Glucose metabolism in the brain
- Thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue
Synaptic Function
VGF-derived peptides enhance:
- [Long-term potentiation](/mechanisms/long-term-potentiation) (LTP) in hippocampal neurons
- Synaptic vesicle dynamics
- Neurotransmitter release
- Memory consolidation
Role in Disease
Alzheimer's Disease
VGF is
downregulated in AD brains, particularly in the [hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus) and [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex):[@hunsberger2009]
- Reduced VGF expression correlates with cognitive decline
- VGF deficiency contributes to synaptic loss
- Decreased VGF levels found in AD cerebrospinal fluid[@thakkervaria2007]
- VGF promoter variants associated with AD risk[@ozaki2011]
Therapeutic strategies:
- VGF-derived peptide analogs (TLQP-62) in development
- Gene therapy approaches to increase VGF expression
- Small molecule VGF inducers
Major Depressive Disorder
VGF is a well-established
biomarker for depression:[@damato2012]
- Reduced VGF in hippocampus of depressed patients
- VGF responds to antidepressant treatment
- TLQP-62 has rapid antidepressant-like effects
Parkinson's Disease
VGF shows altered expression in PD:
- Reduced VGF in substantia nigra
- Potential role in dopaminergic neuron survival
- May protect against MPTP-induced parkinsonism
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
VGF is implicated in ALS pathogenesis:
- Upregulated in ALS spinal cord
- Associated with motoneuron degeneration
- Potential therapeutic target
Therapeutic Targeting
VGF-Derived Peptides
Drug Development Status
- Preclinical: VGF peptide analogs in animal models
- Research: Gene therapy vectors (AAV-VGF)
- Biomarker: VGF peptides in CSF as depression/biomarker
Background
The study of Vgf Nerve Growth Factor has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Brain Atlas Resources
- Allen Human Brain Atlas: [VGF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR expression](https://human.brain-map.org/microarray/search/show?search_term=VGF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR)
- Allen Cell Type Atlas: [VGF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR cell type expression](https://celltypes.brain-map.org/)
- BrainSpan: [VGF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR developmental expression](https://brainspan.org/)
See Also
- [Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)](/proteins/bdnf)
- [Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)](/proteins/nerve-growth-factor)
- [Neurotrophin-3 (NTF3)](/proteins/ntf3-protein)
- [Synaptic Plasticity](/mechanisms/synaptic-dysfunction-pathway)
- [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
External Links
- [UniProt Q9UK23](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9UK23)
- [GeneCards VGF](https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=VGF)
- [PubMed VGF Neurodegeneration](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=VGF+Alzheimer+neurodegeneration)
References
[Hunsberger JG, et al, (2009) (2009)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19158667/)
[Thakker-Varia S, et al, (2007) (2007)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17258908/)
[Ozaki S, et al, (2011) (2011)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21146543/)
[D'Amato FR, et al, (2012) (2012)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22933809/)Pathway Diagram
The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving VGF Nerve Growth Factor discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis:
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)