Overview:

VAV1 is a member of the VAV gene family which are guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for Rho family GTPases. VAV1 activates pathways leading to actin cytoskeletal rearrangements and transcriptional alterations. VAV1 is important in hematopoiesis, playing a role in T-cell and B-cell development and activation (1). VAV1 has been identified as the specific binding partner of Nef proteins from HIV-1. Co-expression and binding of Nef with VAV1 initiates profound morphological changes, cytoskeletal rearrangements and the JNK/SAPK signaling cascade, leading to increased levels of viral transcription and replication.VAV1 proto-oncogene participates in the signaling processes that mediate the antigen-induced activation of B lymphocytes (2).

Gene Aliases:

VAV

Genbank Number:

NM_005428

References:

1. Zhang, R. et.al: . Defective signalling through the T- and B-cell antigen receptors in lymphoid cells lacking the vav proto-oncogene. Nature 374: 470-473, 1995.

2. Bustelo, X. R.et.al: Tyrosine phosphorylation of the VAV proto-oncogene product in activated B cells. Science 256: 1196-1199, 1992.