Gc protein (vitamin D-binding protein): Gc genotyping and GcMAF precursor activity

Hideko Nagasawa; Yoshihiro Uto; Hideyuki Sasaki; Natsuko Okamura; Aya Murakami; Shinichi Kubo; Kenneth L Kirk; Hitoshi Hori

Gc protein (vitamin D-binding protein): Gc genotyping and GcMAF precursor activity

Anticancer Res. 2005 Nov-Dec;25(6A):3689-95.

Authors

Hideko Nagasawa¹, Yoshihiro Uto, Hideyuki Sasaki, Natsuko Okamura, Aya Murakami, Shinichi Kubo, Kenneth L Kirk, Hitoshi Hori

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, Minamijosanjimacho-2, Tokushima 770-8506 Japan.

PMID: 16302727

Abstract

The Gc protein (human group-specific component (Gc), a vitamin D-binding protein or Gc globulin), has important physiological functions that include involvement in vitamin D transport and storage, scavenging of extracellular G-actin, enhancement of the chemotactic activity of C5a for neutrophils in inflammation and macrophage activation (mediated by a GalNAc-modified Gc protein (GcMAF)). In this review, the structure and function of the Gc protein is focused on especially with regard to Gc genotyping and GcMAF precursor activity. A discussion of the research strategy "GcMAF as a target for drug discovery" is included, based on our own research.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Drug Design
Genotype
Humans
Macrophage-Activating Factors / immunology
Macrophage-Activating Factors / metabolism
Macrophage-Activating Factors / pharmacology
Macrophage-Activating Factors / physiology*
Molecular Sequence Data
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Structure-Activity Relationship
Vitamin D-Binding Protein / chemistry*
Vitamin D-Binding Protein / genetics
Vitamin D-Binding Protein / immunology
Vitamin D-Binding Protein / metabolism
Vitamin D-Binding Protein / pharmacology
Vitamin D-Binding Protein / physiology*

Substances

Macrophage-Activating Factors
Vitamin D-Binding Protein
vitamin D-binding protein-macrophage activating factor