AFP Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody (ER80601)

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

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.