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. 1985 Dec;82(23):7994–7998. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.23.7994

Human group-specific component (Gc) is a member of the albumin family.

F Yang, J L Brune, S L Naylor, R L Cupples, K H Naberhaus, B H Bowman
PMCID: PMC391428  PMID: 2415977

Abstract

The group-specific component (Gc) is the major vitamin D-binding protein in plasma. The gene encoding Gc is linked, on human chromosome 4, to the albumin and alpha-fetoprotein genes. These two genes previously were shown to have evolved from a smaller ancestral gene by intragenic triplication. Recombinant plasmids containing human cDNA encoding Gc have been isolated by screening an adult human liver library with a mixed oligonucleotide probe. Characterization of Gc cDNA has provided the complete amino acid sequence of the protein and revealed strong sequence homology with albumin and alpha-fetoprotein. Of particular interest is a conserved pattern of disulfide bridges that form the triple-domain structures in albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, and Gc. Gc cDNA was used as a probe in Southern blot analysis of somatic-cell hybrids to confirm that the Gc locus is on chromosome 4.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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