Enzymes | Angiogenin – A Homolog of Ribonuclease A

Angiogenin (ANG), a secreted protein, is a member of the pancreatic RNase superfamily with weak ribonuclease activity essential for its function. It is a potent inducer of angiogenesis in vivo and is involved in the establishment of many human tumors, in diabetic retinopathy and arthritis. ANG plays an important role in ribosome biogenesis and formation of stress granules. It has also been shown to be a neurotrophic and neuroprotective factor. ANG is implicated in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease. ANG-ALS variants that alter the catalytic activity, affect neuronal survival and lack the ability to form stress granules.