Strabismus (protein)

Strabismus was originally identified as a Drosophila protein involved in planar cell polarity.^[1] Flies with mutated strabismus genes have altered development of ommatidia in their eyes. Vertebrates have two Strabismus-related proteins, VANGL1 and VANGL2 (an alternate name for the Drosophila "Strabismus" protein is "Van Gogh").

vang-like 1 (van gogh, Drosophila)
Identifiers
Symbol	VANGL1
NCBI gene	81839
OMIM	610132

The amino acid sequence and localization studies for Strabismus indicate that it is a membrane protein. Prickle is another protein in the planar cell polarity signaling pathway. Prickle is recruited to the cell surface membrane by strabismus.^[2] In cells of the developing Drosophila wing, Prickle and Strabismus are concentrated at the cell surface membrane on the most proximal side of cells.^[3]

Vertebrate cell movement

vang-like 2 (van gogh, Drosophila)
Identifiers
Symbol	VANGL2
NCBI gene	57216
OMIM	600533

VANGL2 is involved in the migration of groups of cells during vertebrate embryogenesis.^[4]

Humans

In humans, mutations in VANGL1 have been associated with neural tube defects including spina bifida,^[5] and with some forms of cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma.^[6][7]