Entrez gene ID | | 174 |
Official gene symbol | | AFP |
Full name | | alpha-fetoprotein |
Aliases | | ,FETA,HPAFP, |
Gene summary | | This gene encodes alpha-fetoprotein, a major plasma protein produced by the yolk sac and the liver during fetal life. Alpha-fetoprotein expression in adults is often associated with hepatoma or teratoma. However, hereditary persistance of alpha-fetoprotein may also be found in individuals with no obvious pathology. The protein is thought to be the fetal counterpart of serum albumin, and the alpha-fetoprotein and albumin genes are present in tandem in the same transcriptional orientation on chromosome 4. Alpha-fetoprotein is found in monomeric as well as dimeric and trimeric forms, and binds copper, nickel, fatty acids and bilirubin. The level of alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid is used to measure renal loss of protein to screen for spina bifida and anencephaly. [provided by RefSeq] |
Location | | Chromosome: 4 Locus: 4q11-q13 |
Gene position | | 74301933 - 74321492 Map Viewer |
Gene orientation | | plus |
Gene size | | 19560 bp |
Gene sequence |
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OMIM ID | | 104150 |
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