ASPA

This gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of N-acetyl_L-aspartic acid (NAA) to aspartate and acetate. NAA is abundant in the brain where hydrolysis by aspartoacylase is thought to help maintain white matter. This protein is an NAA scavenger in other tissues. Mutations in this gene cause Canavan disease. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Aspartoacylase

Catalyzes the deacetylation of N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA) to produce acetate and L-aspartate. NAA occurs in high concentration in brain and its hydrolysis NAA plays a significant part in the maintenance of intact white matter. In other tissues it act as a scavenger of NAA from body fluids.

Aspartate catabolic process Source: ProtInc
Aspartate family amino acid metabolic process Source: Reactome
Central nervous system myelination Source: Ensembl
Positive regulation of oligodendrocyte differentiation Source: Ensembl

Cytoplasm; Nucleus

Canavan disease (CAND): A rare neurodegenerative condition of infancy or childhood characterized by white matter vacuolization and demyelination that gives rise to a spongy appearance. The clinical features are onset in early infancy, atonia of neck muscles, hypotonia, hyperextension of legs and flexion of arms, blindness, severe mental defect, megalocephaly, and death by 18 months on the average.