NRP2 Gene

NRP2 Gene

Gene Overview

<div class="infobox infobox-gene"> [@neuropilin2019]
<table> [@nrp2020]
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#e8f4ea;"><b>NRP2</b></th></tr> [@neuropilinvegf2021]
<tr><td><b>Full Name</b></td><td>Neuropilin 2</td></tr> [@nrp2018]
<tr><td><b>Chromosomal Location</b></td><td>2q33.3</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>NCBI Gene ID</b></td><td>[5818](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5818)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>OMIM</b></td><td>[602070](https://www.omim.org/entry/602070)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Ensembl ID</b></td><td>ENSG00000118257</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>UniProt</b></td><td>[O60462](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O60462)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Associated Diseases</b></td><td>Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Hirschsprung Disease, Cancer</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

Overview

NRP2 encodes Neuropilin 2, a transmembrane glycoprotein that functions as a receptor for multiple ligands including Semaphorin3B (SEMA3B), Semaphorin3F (SEMA3F), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and other axon guidance molecules. NRP2 is essential for neuronal development, axonal guidance, and vascular development. While NRP1 and NRP2 share structural homology, they have distinct expression patterns and ligand specificities. This page covers the gene's normal function, disease associations, expression patterns, and key research findings relevant to neurodegeneration.

Function

NRP2 participates in multiple signaling pathways:

NRP2 Gene

Gene Overview

<div class="infobox infobox-gene"> [@neuropilin2019]
<table> [@nrp2020]
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#e8f4ea;"><b>NRP2</b></th></tr> [@neuropilinvegf2021]
<tr><td><b>Full Name</b></td><td>Neuropilin 2</td></tr> [@nrp2018]
<tr><td><b>Chromosomal Location</b></td><td>2q33.3</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>NCBI Gene ID</b></td><td>[5818](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5818)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>OMIM</b></td><td>[602070](https://www.omim.org/entry/602070)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Ensembl ID</b></td><td>ENSG00000118257</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>UniProt</b></td><td>[O60462](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O60462)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Associated Diseases</b></td><td>Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Hirschsprung Disease, Cancer</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

Overview

NRP2 encodes Neuropilin 2, a transmembrane glycoprotein that functions as a receptor for multiple ligands including Semaphorin3B (SEMA3B), Semaphorin3F (SEMA3F), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and other axon guidance molecules. NRP2 is essential for neuronal development, axonal guidance, and vascular development. While NRP1 and NRP2 share structural homology, they have distinct expression patterns and ligand specificities. This page covers the gene's normal function, disease associations, expression patterns, and key research findings relevant to neurodegeneration.

Function

NRP2 participates in multiple signaling pathways:

Neuronal Development

• Axon Guidance: NRP2 serves as a receptor for class 3 semaphorins (SEMA3B, SEMA3F), directing axon migration
• Dendritic Morphogenesis: Regulates dendritic arborization
• Synapse Formation: Involved in inhibitory synapse development
• Neural Crest Cell Migration: Critical for peripheral nervous system development

Vascular Function

• Angiogenesis: NRP2 acts as VEGF receptor, supporting blood vessel formation
• Lymphangiogenesis: Particularly important for lymphatic vessel development
• Vascular Patterning: Guides developing blood and lymphatic vessels

Signaling Mechanisms

• Co-receptor for VEGFR1/VEGFR2 in angiogenesis
• Receptor for SEMA3B/SEMA3F in neuronal guidance
• Partner for plexin receptors in semaphorin signaling
• Regulator of cell migration and adhesion

Disease Associations

Alzheimer's Disease

• Altered NRP2 expression in AD brain
• NRP2-VEGF signaling in cerebral blood flow regulation
• SEMA3B-NRP2 signaling affects synaptic function
• Neurovascular dysfunction involves NRP2

Parkinson's Disease

• NRP2 expression in substantia nigra
• Axon guidance defects involve NRP2 dysfunction
• Possible interaction with [alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein) pathology

Hirschsprung Disease

• NRP2 mutations associated with Hirschsprung disease
• Defects in enteric nervous system development

Cancer

• NRP2 overexpression in multiple tumors
• Promotes invasion and metastasis
• Poor prognosis in several cancers

Expression

NRP2 exhibits distinct expression patterns:

• Cerebral [Cortex](/brain-regions/cortex): Moderate expression in interneurons
• [Hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus): Expression in CA regions
• Substantia Nigra: Dopaminergic [neurons](/entities/neurons)
• Peripheral Nervous System: Enteric neurons, sensory ganglia
• Endothelial Cells: Lymphatic and vascular endothelium
• Neural Crest Derivatives: Schwann cells, melanocytes

• Hypoxia
• Growth factors
• Developmental signals
• Cell type-specific transcription factors

Therapeutic Implications

NRP2 represents a therapeutic target for:

• Neurodegenerative disease research
• Cancer therapy (anti-metastasis)
• Lymphangiogenesis-related diseases

• NRP2 antagonists
• SEMA3B/F modulators
• VEGF-NRP2 blocking agents

Key Publications

Cross-References

• [NRP1](/genes/nrp1) - Related neuropilin family member
• [VEGFA](/genes/vegfa) - VEGF ligand
• [SEMA3B](/genes/sema3b) - Semaphorin ligand
• [SEMA3F](/genes/sema3f) - Semaphorin ligand
• [FLT1](/genes/flt1) - VEGF receptor 1
• [Axon Guidance Pathway](/mechanisms/axon-guidance) - Major signaling pathway

See Also

• [Axon Guidance Pathway](/mechanisms/axon-guidance)

External Links

• [NCBI Gene: NRP1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5818)
• [Ensembl: ENSG00000118257](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000118257)
• [UniProt: O60462](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O60462)
• [GeneCards: NRP1](https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=NRP1)
• [OMIM: NRP1](https://omim.org/search?search=NRP1)
• [Allen Brain Atlas: NRP1](https://human.brain-map.org/microarray/search/show?search_term=NRP1)

References