AFP Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody

Function

AFP is a protein normally produced by the fetal liver and is present in the fluid surrounding the fetus (amniotic fluid), and crosses the placenta into the mother's blood. AFP gene expression is regulated by the interactions between steroid hormone receptors and transcriptional factors in separate signal transduction pathways. AFP functions as a binding and transporting ligand and cell growth regulator. Elevated expression level of AFP has been implicated in colorectal, ovarian, pancreatic, testicular, and certain liver cancers. High levels of AFP are also seen in some diseases such as hepatitis and colitis.

Background References

1. Shan, L. et al. 2012. Proteomic analysis of amniotic fluid of pregnant rats with spina bifida aperta. J Proteomics. 75: 1181-1189.

2. Soma, M. et al. 2012. Preferential emergence of cell types expressing markers for primitive endoderm lineages in mouse embryonic stem cells expressing exogenous EGAM1 homeoprotein. J. Biosci. Bioeng. 114: 342-346.

Sequence Similarity

Belongs to the ALB/AFP/VDB family.

Tissue Specificity

Plasma. Synthesized by the fetal liver and yolk sac.

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

UNIPROT

SwissProt: P02771 Human

Synonyms