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. 1991 Apr 15;88(8):3102–3105. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.8.3102

Localization of the estrogen-binding site of alpha-fetoprotein in the chimeric human-rat proteins.

S Nishi 1, H Matsue 1, H Yoshida 1, R Yamaoto 1, M Sakai 1
PMCID: PMC51393  PMID: 1707533

Abstract

Rat alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been demonstrated to bind estrogen, whereas human AFP lacks the activity. We constructed four chimeric molecules from cDNAs encoding these AFPs with the use of two restriction sites common to them and expressed them as well as rat and human AFP cDNA in yeast. The recombinant molecules were purified, characterized, and found to have the predicted structures. Analyses of estrogen binding indicated that a rat AFP sequence composed of residues 423-506 that contains 31 rat-specific amino acids is essential for the activity.

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Selected References

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