Asprosin
Asprosin is a protein hormone and adipokine secreted by white adipose tissue, where it regulates glucose homeostasis. It is generated from the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) preproprotein by proteolytic processing, alongside the extracellular matrix component fibrillin-1. Browse Assay Genie's current range of Asprosin research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Asprosin is an adipokine released by white adipose tissue that plays a regulatory role in the glucose metabolism of liver, muscle and pancreas. It acts as a hormone that targets the liver in response to fasting, raising plasma glucose. It binds the olfactory receptor OR4M1 at the surface of hepatocytes and activates protein kinase A activity in the liver, which drives rapid glucose release into the circulation.
Asprosin also influences energy balance. It may act as a regulator of adaptive thermogenesis by inhibiting browning and energy consumption while increasing lipid deposition in white adipose tissue. It is an orexigenic hormone as well: it crosses the blood brain barrier and acts on the hypothalamus. In the arcuate nucleus, asprosin directly activates orexigenic AgRP neurons, through binding to OR4M1, and indirectly inhibits anorexigenic POMC neurons, which stimulates appetite. It may also contribute to sperm motility in the testis through the same receptor.
Asprosin is encoded by the FBN1 gene (fibrillin 1, previously fibrillin 1 (Marfan syndrome); aliases MASS, OCTD, SGS, FBN, MFS1 and WMS), a member of the fibrillin family. The encoded preproprotein is cleaved into two products: fibrillin-1, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that forms part of calcium-binding microfibrils giving force-bearing support to elastic and nonelastic connective tissue, and the hormone asprosin. Mutations in the gene are associated with Marfan syndrome and the related MASS phenotype, ectopia lentis syndrome, Weill-Marchesani syndrome, Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome and neonatal progeroid syndrome. The mouse ortholog is Fbn1.
Asprosin raises plasma glucose in response to fasting by acting on the liver, making it a focus for studies of glucose regulation.
Asprosin crosses the blood brain barrier and activates AgRP neurons while inhibiting POMC neurons, linking it to appetite control.
Asprosin may inhibit browning and energy consumption while increasing lipid deposition in white adipose tissue, relevant to adaptive thermogenesis research.
As a cleavage product of the FBN1 gene, asprosin connects hormone biology with fibrillin-1 microfibrils and FBN1-associated disorders.
Asprosin is a hormone secreted by white adipose tissue. In response to fasting it binds OR4M1 on hepatocytes, activates protein kinase A and promotes glucose release. It also stimulates appetite by activating AgRP neurons and inhibiting POMC neurons in the hypothalamus.
Asprosin and fibrillin-1 come from the same gene, FBN1. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed into two products: fibrillin-1, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein in microfibrils, and the hormone asprosin. Other names for the gene include MASS, OCTD, SGS, FBN, MFS1 and WMS.
The gene has a mouse ortholog, Fbn1; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity. Mutations in FBN1 are associated with Marfan syndrome, MASS phenotype, ectopia lentis, Weill-Marchesani, Shprintzen-Goldberg and neonatal progeroid syndromes.
Fibrillin family members and related targets in glucose metabolism and connective tissue biology.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P35555; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.