{"symbol":"ASIP","synonyms":["ASP","SHEP9","AGTIL","AGTI","AGSW"],"name":"agouti signaling protein","description":"In mice, the agouti gene encodes a paracrine signaling molecule that causes hair follicle melanocytes to synthesize pheomelanin, a yellow pigment, instead of the black or brown pigment, eumelanin. Pleiotropic effects of constitutive expression of the mouse gene include adult-onset obesity, increased tumor susceptibility, and premature infertility. This gene is highly similar to the mouse gene and encodes a secreted protein that may (1) affect the quality of hair pigmentation, (2) act as a pharmacological antagonist of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, (3) play a role in neuroendocrine aspects of melanocortin action, and (4) have a functional role in regulating lipid metabolism in adipocytes. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]","ncbiEntrezGeneId":434,"ncbiEntrezGeneUrl":"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/434","proteins":[{"symbol":"ASIP_HUMAN","href":"/api/1.0/protein/ASIP_HUMAN"}],"hgncRootFamilies":[]}