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AFP alpha fetoprotein [ Homo sapiens (human) ]

Gene ID: 174, updated on 22-Apr-2024

Summary

Official Symbol
AFPprovided by HGNC
Official Full Name
alpha fetoproteinprovided by HGNC
Primary source
HGNC:HGNC:317
See related
Ensembl:ENSG00000081051 MIM:104150; AllianceGenome:HGNC:317
Gene type
protein coding
RefSeq status
REVIEWED
Organism
Homo sapiens
Lineage
Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo
Also known as
AFPD; FETA; HPAFP
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 hepatocarcinoma and with teratoma, and has prognostic value for managing advanced gastric cancer. 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, Oct 2019]
Expression
Biased expression in kidney (RPKM 1.8) and liver (RPKM 1.6) See more
Orthologs
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Genomic context

Location:
4q13.3
Exon count:
15
Annotation release Status Assembly Chr Location
RS_2023_10 current GRCh38.p14 (GCF_000001405.40) 4 NC_000004.12 (73436221..73456174)
RS_2023_10 current T2T-CHM13v2.0 (GCF_009914755.1) 4 NC_060928.1 (76779943..76799830)
105.20220307 previous assembly GRCh37.p13 (GCF_000001405.25) 4 NC_000004.11 (74301938..74321891)

Chromosome 4 - NC_000004.12Genomic Context describing neighboring genes Neighboring gene small nucleolar RNA SNORA3/SNORA45 family Neighboring gene ANKRD17 divergent transcript Neighboring gene BRD4-independent group 4 enhancer GRCh37_chr4:74191462-74192661 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr4:74204803-74205304 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr4:74205305-74205804 Neighboring gene OCT4-NANOG hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr4:74209023-74209524 Neighboring gene OCT4-NANOG hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr4:74235125-74235832 Neighboring gene albumin (ALB) 5' regulatory region Neighboring gene alpha fetoprotein (AFP) 5' regulatory region Neighboring gene albumin Neighboring gene P300/CBP strongly-dependent group 1 enhancer GRCh37_chr4:74315627-74316826 Neighboring gene NANOG hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr4:74360223-74360724 Neighboring gene afamin Neighboring gene long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 2499 Neighboring gene Sharpr-MPRA regulatory region 8651

Genomic regions, transcripts, and products

Expression

  • Project title: HPA RNA-seq normal tissues
  • Description: RNA-seq was performed of tissue samples from 95 human individuals representing 27 different tissues in order to determine tissue-specificity of all protein-coding genes
  • BioProject: PRJEB4337
  • Publication: PMID 24309898
  • Analysis date: Wed Apr 4 07:08:55 2018

Bibliography

GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?

Phenotypes

Associated conditions

Description Tests
Alpha-fetoprotein deficiency
MedGen: C1863081 OMIM: 615969 GeneReviews: Not available
Compare labs
Alpha-fetoprotein, hereditary persistence of
MedGen: C1863080 OMIM: 615970 GeneReviews: Not available
not available

EBI GWAS Catalog

Description
A genome wide association study of genetic loci that influence tumour biomarkers cancer antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen and α fetoprotein and their associations with cancer risk.
EBI GWAS Catalog
Identification of 23 new prostate cancer susceptibility loci using the iCOGS custom genotyping array.
EBI GWAS Catalog

HIV-1 interactions

Protein interactions

Protein Gene Interaction Pubs
Envelope surface glycoprotein gp120 env Human alpha-fetoprotein specifically interacts with HIV-1 gp120/gp41 (Env) and inhibits infection of primary macrophages by macrophage-tropic HIV-1 strains PubMed
Envelope transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 env Human alpha-fetoprotein specifically interacts with HIV-1 gp120/gp41 (Env) and inhibits infection of primary macrophages by macrophage-tropic HIV-1 strains PubMed

Go to the HIV-1, Human Interaction Database

Pathways from PubChem

Interactions

Products Interactant Other Gene Complex Source Pubs Description

General gene information

Markers

Gene Ontology Provided by GOA

Function Evidence Code Pubs
enables metal ion binding IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
 
enables protein binding IPI
Inferred from Physical Interaction
more info
PubMed 
enables small molecule binding IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
 
Process Evidence Code Pubs
involved_in ovulation from ovarian follicle IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
 
involved_in progesterone metabolic process IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
 
involved_in transport IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
 
Component Evidence Code Pubs
is_active_in cytoplasm IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
 
located_in endoplasmic reticulum lumen TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
 

General protein information

Preferred Names
alpha-fetoprotein
Names
alpha-1-fetoprotein
alpha-fetoglobulin

NCBI Reference Sequences (RefSeq)

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RefSeqs maintained independently of Annotated Genomes

These reference sequences exist independently of genome builds. Explain

These reference sequences are curated independently of the genome annotation cycle, so their versions may not match the RefSeq versions in the current genome build. Identify version mismatches by comparing the version of the RefSeq in this section to the one reported in Genomic regions, transcripts, and products above.

Genomic

  1. NG_023028.2 RefSeqGene

    Range
    5002..24955
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. NM_001134.3 → NP_001125.1  alpha-fetoprotein isoform 1 precursor

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001125.1

    Status: REVIEWED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (1) represents the longer transcript and encodes the longer isoform (1).
    Source sequence(s)
    AC108157
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS3556.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B2RBU3, P02771
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    J3KMX3
    Related
    ENSP00000379138.2, ENST00000395792.7
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    smart00103
    Location:404 → 594
    ALBUMIN; serum albumin
  2. NM_001354717.2 → NP_001341646.2  alpha-fetoprotein isoform 2

    Status: REVIEWED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (2) differs in the 5' UTR and coding sequence compared to variant 1. The resulting isoform (2) is shorter at the N-terminus compared to isoform 1.
    Source sequence(s)
    AC108157
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    B4DMX4
    Conserved Domains (2) summary
    smart00103
    Location:246 → 436
    ALBUMIN; serum albumin
    cl00031
    Location:1 → 50
    ALBUMIN; Albumin domain, contains five or six internal disulphide bonds; albuminoid superfamily includes alpha-fetoprotein which binds various cations, fatty acids and bilirubin; vitamin D-binding protein which binds to vitamin D, its metabolites, and fatty acids; ...

RefSeqs of Annotated Genomes: GCF_000001405.40-RS_2023_10

The following sections contain reference sequences that belong to a specific genome build. Explain

Reference GRCh38.p14 Primary Assembly

Genomic

  1. NC_000004.12 Reference GRCh38.p14 Primary Assembly

    Range
    73436221..73456174
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

Alternate T2T-CHM13v2.0

Genomic

  1. NC_060928.1 Alternate T2T-CHM13v2.0

    Range
    76779943..76799830
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)