WAS/WASL Interacting Protein Family, Member 1 (WIPF1)

WAS/WASL-interacting protein family member 1 is a protein that plays an important role in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. The encoded protein binds to a region of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein that is frequently mutated in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, an X-linked recessive disorder. Impairment of the interaction between these two proteins may contribute to the disease. Two transcript variants encoding the same protein have been identified for this gene. The size of platelets and lymphocytes is reduced in WAS, and scanning electron microscopy of T lymphocytes shows a relatively smooth surface with decrease in the number and size of microvilli, suggesting a defect in cytoskeletal architecture. The WAS gene encodes a 502-amino acid proline-rich protein (WASP).