Background |
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a major plasma protein in the fetus, where it is produced by the yolk sac and liver. Direct confirmation of the assignment of the AFP gene to chromosome 4 by in situ hybridization was provided by Harper and Dugaiczyk (1983), who placed the gene in the q11-q22 region, the same region as the albumin gene. Structure and evolution of human alpha-fetoprotein deduced from partial sequence of cloned cDNA.As the major fetal serum protein, Alpha-fetoprotein is not essential for embryonic development but is required for female fertility. |
References |
- 1. D'Eustachio, P., Ingram, R. S., Tilghman, S. M., Ruddle, F. H. : Murine alpha-fetoprotein and albumin: two evolutionarily linked proteins encoded on the same mouse chromosome. Somat. Cell Genet. 7: 289-294, 1981.
- 2. Beattie, W. G., Dugaiczyk, A. : Structure and evolution of human alpha-fetoprotein deduced from partial sequence of cloned cDNA. Gene 20: 415-422, 1982.
- 3. Gabant, P., Forrester, L., Nichols, J., Van Reeth, T., De Mees, C., Pajack, B., Watt, A., Smitz, J., Alexandre, H., Szpirer, C., Szpirer, J. : Alpha-fetoprotein, the major fetal serum protein, is not essential for embryonic development but is required for female fertility. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 99: 12865-12870, 2002.
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