Target Background
This gene encodes a member of the tretraspanin family. The encoded protein may be involved in mediating intestinal trefoil factor induced wound healing in the intestinal mucosa. Mutations in this gene are associated with neural tube defects. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2010],disease:Defects in VANGL1 are a cause of neural tube defects (NTD) [MIM:182940]. NTD are congenital malformations. The most common forms of NTD are described as open defects (including anencephaly and myelomeningocele, or spina bifida), which result from the failure of fusion in the cranial and spinal region of the neural tube, respectively. Other open dysraphisms (including myeloschisis, hemimyelomeningocele, and hemimyelocele) are sometimes associated with a Chiari type 2 malformation. A number of skin-covered (closed) NTD are categorized clinically depending on the presence of a subcutaneous mass (lipomyeloschisis, lipomyelomeningocele, meningocele, and myelocystocele) or the absence of such a mass (complex dysraphic states, including split cord malformations, dermal sinus, caudal regression, and segmental spinal dysgenesis).,disease:Defects in VANGL1 are a cause of sacral defect with anterior meningocele (SDAM) [MIM:600145]. SDAM is a form of caudal dysgenesis. It is present at birth and becomes symptomatic later in life, usually because of obstructive labor in females, chronic constipation, or meningitis. Inheritance is autosomal dominant.,similarity:Belongs to the Vang family.,subunit:Interacts through its C-terminal region with the N-terminal half of DVL1, DVL2 and DVL3. The PDZ domain of DVL1, DVL2 and DVL3 is required for the interaction.,tissue specificity:Ubiquitous (PubMed:11956595). Expressed specifically in testis and ovary (PubMed:12011995).,
