The WAS gene provides instructions for making a protein called WASP. This protein is found in all blood cells. WASP is involved in relaying signals from the surface of blood cells to the actin cytoskeleton, which is a network of fibers that make up the cell’s structural framework. WASP signaling triggers the cell to move and attach to other cells and tissues (adhesion). In white blood cells, which protect the body from infection, this signaling allows the actin cytoskeleton to establish the interaction between cells and the foreign invaders that they target (immune synapse).
Other Names
IMD2; WASP; WASP_HUMAN; WASPA
Related Genetics Topics
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome — MedlinePlus Genetics
- Severe congenital neutropenia — MedlinePlus Genetics
- X-linked thrombocytopenia — MedlinePlus Genetics
Identifiers
- NCBI Gene: 7454
- OMIM: 300392
Source: MedlinePlus Genetics, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
