VWA2

{{short description|Protein}}

{{Infobox_gene}}

von Willebrand factor A domain-containing protein 2, also known as A domain-containing protein similar to matrilin and collagen (AMACO), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the VWA2 gene.{{cite web | title = Entrez Gene: von Willebrand factor A domain containing 2 | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=340706| access-date = }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Sengle G, Kobbe B, Morgelin M, Paulsson M, Wagener R | title = Identification and characterization of AMACO, a new member of the von Willebrand factor A-like domain protein superfamily with a regulated expression in the kidney | journal = The Journal of Biological Chemistry | volume = 278 | issue = 50 | pages = 50240–9 | date = December 2003 | pmid = 14506275 | doi = 10.1074/jbc.M307794200 | doi-access = free }}

AMACO is a member of the von Willebrand factor A-like (VWA) domain containing protein superfamily and consists of three VWA-like domains, two EGF-like domains, a cysteine-rich domain and a unique C-terminal domain.

AMACO is an extracellular matrix protein and mostly deposited adjacent to basement membranes.{{cite journal | vauthors = Gebauer JM, Keene DR, Olsen BR, Sorokin LM, Paulsson M, Wagener R | title = Mouse AMACO, a kidney and skin basement membrane associated molecule that mediates RGD-dependent cell attachment | journal = Matrix Biology | volume = 28 | issue = 8 | pages = 456–62 | date = October 2009 | pmid = 19651211 | doi = 10.1016/j.matbio.2009.07.006 }}

AMACO binds directly to FRAS1 which is part of the Fraser complex important for epithelial-connective tissue interaction,{{cite journal | vauthors = Richardson RJ, Gebauer JM, Zhang JL, Kobbe B, Keene DR, Karlsen KR, Richetti S, Wohl AP, Sengle G, Neiss WF, Paulsson M, Hammerschmidt M, Wagener R | title = AMACO is a component of the basement membrane-associated Fraser complex | journal = The Journal of Investigative Dermatology | volume = 134 | issue = 5 | pages = 1313–1322 | date = May 2014 | pmid = 24232570 | pmc = 4361737 | doi = 10.1038/jid.2013.492 }} the exact biological role of AMACO, however, is still unknown. In 2005 AMACO was found markedly induced in colon cancers;{{cite journal | vauthors = Xin B, Platzer P, Fink SP, Reese L, Nosrati A, Willson JK, Wilson K, Markowitz S | title = Colon cancer secreted protein-2 (CCSP-2), a novel candidate serological marker of colon neoplasia | journal = Oncogene | volume = 24 | issue = 4 | pages = 724–31 | date = January 2005 | pmid = 15580307 | doi = 10.1038/sj.onc.1208134 | doi-access = free }} indicating that it might be a good candidate as a biomarker for this type of cancer.