TYMP encodes for the enzyme
thymidine phosphorylase.
TYMP and thymidine phosphorylase are associated with
angiogenesis, growth of
endothelial cells, and
mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE). Thymidine phosphorylase is angiogenic
growth factor which promotes
angiogenesis in vivo and stimulates the in vitro growth of a variety of endothelial cells. Thymidine phosphorylase has a highly restricted target cell specificity acting only on
endothelial cells, hence its alternative name of ECGF1. Because it limits glial cell proliferation, thymidine phosphorylase is also known as gliostatin. Thymidine phosphorylase activity in leukocytes from
mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) patients was less than 5 percent of controls, indicating that loss-of-function mutations in
TYMP cause MNGIE. == Interactive pathway map ==