AFP Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody (R1601-1)

UNIPROT #

P02771

PROTEIN NAME

AFP

SYNONYMS

Afp antibody;AFPD antibody;Alpha fetoglobulin antibody;Alpha fetoprotein antibody;Alpha fetoprotein precursor antibody;Alpha-1-fetoprotein antibody;Alpha-fetoglobulin antibody;Alpha-fetoprotein antibody;alpha-fetoprotein, Hereditary persistence of, included antibody;FETA antibody;FETA_HUMAN antibody;Hereditary persistence of alpha fetoprotein antibody;HPAFP antibody

SEQUENCE SIMILARITIES

Belongs to the ALB/AFP/VDB family.

TISSUE SPECIFICITY

Plasma. Synthesized by the fetal liver and yolk sac.

DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE

Occurs in the plasma of fetuses more than 4 weeks old, reaches the highest levels during the 12th-16th week of gestation, and drops to trace amounts after birth. The serum level in adults is usually less than 40 ng/ml. AFP occurs also at high levels in the plasma and ascitic fluid of adults with hepatoma.

POST-TRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATION

Independent studies suggest heterogeneity of the N-terminal sequence of the mature protein and of the cleavage site of the signal sequence.; Sulfated.

SUBCELLULAR LOCATION

Secreted.

FUNCTION

α-fetoprotein (AFP) is expressed in fetal liver at varying levels throughout development and is present only in trace amounts in normal adult tissues. AFP can be detected at abnormally high concentrations in hepatocellular carcinomas as well as in the plasma and ascitic fluid of adults with hepatoma. High AFP concentrations have been correlated with tumor cell growth, indicating that AFP can serve as a tumor marker. AFP binds copper, nickel and fatty acids, and in some cases may bind serum albumin or estrogen. It has been demonstrated that the AFP promoter is a target for NF-1 (nuclear factor-1), HNF-1 (hepatocyte nuclear factor-1) and C/EBP transcription factors. While HNF-1 binding to the AFP promoter results in AFP expression, NF-1 binding results in a decrease in AFP promoter activity.