ASIP
Description
The ASIP (agouti signaling protein) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 20.
ASIP, or Agouti-signaling protein, is a human gene involved in the regulation of melanogenesis, the process of pigment production.
ASIP plays a crucial role in regulating melanogenesis, the process of pigment production in skin, hair, and eyes. It binds to the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), preventing the signaling initiated by alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). This blockage disrupts the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), leading to a reduction in the synthesis of eumelanin (brown/black pigment) and an increase in the production of pheomelanin (yellow/red pigment). In higher primates, ASIP might influence the quality of hair pigmentation rather than its pattern of distribution. Furthermore, ASIP could be involved in the neuroendocrine aspects of melanocortin action and might have a role in regulating lipid metabolism within adipocytes.
ASIP is also known as AGSW, AGTI, AGTIL, ASP, SHEP9.
