Actin nucleation-promoting factor WASL

WASL (actin nucleation-promoting factor) is a 505-amino acid protein that regulates actin polymerization by stimulating the Arp2/3 complex, controlling processes including mitosis, cytokinesis, and filopodia formation (UniProt: O00401). It also functions in the nucleus by promoting nuclear actin polymerization and regulating gene transcription, and plays a role in dendrite spine morphogenesis.

WASL is broadly expressed across tissues and involved in fundamental cytoskeletal dynamics essential for cell division and morphogenesis. No genetic diseases are curated in UniProt for this protein.

WASL shows reduced abundance in Alzheimer's disease brain tissue. Analysis of post-mortem AD brain versus age-matched controls using TMT proteomics across four subcellular fractions revealed WASL is downregulated with a mean log2 fold-change of −0.94 (Chaparral AD proteomics). This reduction may reflect impaired actin dynamics and cytoskeletal remodeling associated with AD pathology.