Angiogenic Factor With G Patch And FHA Domains 1 (AGGF1)

The AGGF1 gene encodes a potent angiogenic factor that contains a forkhead-associated domain and a G-patch domain. VG5Q was ubiquitously expressed in human tissues examined, including heart, brain, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and pancreas. Intracellular localization studies showed VG5Q protein mostly in the cytoplasm and around the nuclei of HMVECs. In an in vitro model of angiogenesis where endothelial cells were plated onto matrigel, VG5Q protein began to redistribute by moving towards the cell periphery and was also detected outside the cell. Purified wildtype VG5Q protein promoted strong angiogenesis in a chick chorioallantoic membrane assay, demonstrating that VG5Q is a potent angiogenic factor. Angiogenesis was inhibited by RNA interference against VG5Q in in vitro assays.