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General description of the gene and the encoded protein(s) using information from HGNC and Ensembl, as well as predictions made by the Human Protein Atlas project.
Gene namei
Official gene symbol, which is typically a short form of the gene name, according to HGNC.
Assigned HPA protein class(es) for the encoded protein(s).
Plasma proteins
Predicted locationi
All transcripts of all genes have been analyzed regarding the location(s) of corresponding protein based on prediction methods for signal peptides and transmembrane regions.
Genes with at least one transcript predicted to encode a secreted protein, according to prediction methods or to UniProt location data, have been further annotated and classified with the aim to determine if the corresponding protein(s) are secreted or actually retained in intracellular locations or membrane-attached.
Remaining genes, with no transcript predicted to encode a secreted protein, will be assigned the prediction-based location(s).
The annotated location overrules the predicted location, so that a gene encoding a predicted secreted protein that has been annotated as intracellular will have intracellular as the final location.
Gene information from Ensembl and Entrez, as well as links to available gene identifiers are displayed here. Information was retrieved from Ensembl if not indicated otherwise.
Chromosome
9
Cytoband
q32
Chromosome location (bp)
114060127 - 114078328
Number of transcriptsi
Number of protein-coding transcripts from the gene as defined by Ensembl.
Useful information about the protein provided by UniProt.
[Alpha-1-microglobulin]: Antioxidant and tissue repair protein with reductase, heme-binding and radical-scavenging activities. Removes and protects against harmful oxidants and repairs macromolecules in intravascular and extravascular spaces and in intracellular compartments 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Intravascularly, plays a regulatory role in red cell homeostasis by preventing heme- and reactive oxygen species-induced cell damage. Binds and degrades free heme to protect fetal and adult red blood cells from hemolysis 9,10. Reduces extracellular methemoglobin, a Fe3+ (ferric) form of hemoglobin that cannot bind oxygen, back to the Fe2+ (ferrous) form deoxyhemoglobin, which has oxygen-carrying potential 11. Upon acute inflammation, inhibits oxidation of low-density lipoprotein particles by MPO and limits vascular damage 12. Extravascularly, protects from oxidation products formed on extracellular matrix structures and cell membranes. Catalyzes the reduction of carbonyl groups on oxidized collagen fibers and preserves cellular and extracellular matrix ultrastructures 13,14. Importantly, counteracts the oxidative damage at blood-placenta interface, preventing leakage of free fetal hemoglobin into the maternal circulation 15. Intracellularly, has a role in maintaining mitochondrial redox homeostasis. Bound to complex I of the respiratory chain of mitochondria, may scavenge free radicals and preserve mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Protects renal tubule epithelial cells from heme-induced oxidative damage to mitochondria 16,17. Reduces cytochrome c from Fe3+ (ferric) to the Fe2+ (ferrous) state through formation of superoxide anion radicals in the presence of ascorbate or NADH/NADPH electron donor cofactors, ascorbate being the preferred cofactor 18. Has a chaperone role in facilitating the correct folding of bikunin in the endoplasmic reticulum compartment (By similarity)....show less
Molecular function (UniProt)i
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins due to their particular molecular function.
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins because they are involved in a particular biological process.
Host-virus interaction
Ligand (UniProt)i
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins because they bind, are associated with, or whose activity is dependent of some molecule.
Chromophore
Gene summary (Entrez)i
Useful information about the gene from Entrez
This gene encodes a complex glycoprotein secreted in plasma. The precursor is proteolytically processed into distinct functioning proteins: alpha-1-microglobulin, which belongs to the superfamily of lipocalin transport proteins and may play a role in the regulation of inflammatory processes, and bikunin, which is a urinary trypsin inhibitor belonging to the superfamily of Kunitz-type protease inhibitors and plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. This gene is located on chromosome 9 in a cluster of lipocalin genes. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]...show less
PROTEIN INFORMATIONi
The protein information section displays alternative protein-coding transcripts (splice variants) encoded by this gene according to the Ensembl database.
The Splice variant identifier links to the Ensembl website protein summary for the selected splice variant. The data in the Swissprot and TrEMBL columns links to corresponding pages in the UniProt database.
The protein classes assigned to this protein are shown if expanding the data in the protein class column. Parent protein classes are in bold font and subclasses are listed under the parent class.
The length of the protein (amino acid residues according to Ensembl), molecular mass (kDalton), predicted signal peptide and number of predicted transmembrane region(s) according to in-house majority decision methods based on sets of predictors are also reported.