title: Sex hormone-binding globulin, androgen-binding protein, and vitamin K-dependent protein S are homologous to laminin A, merosin, and Drosophila crumbs protein.
abstract: Androgen-binding protein (ABP) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are extracellular steroid-binding proteins that are homologous to the COOH-terminal domain of vitamin K-dependent protein S, a protein important in blood clotting. We find that the sequences of ABP, SHBG, and protein S are also similar to two basement membrane proteins, laminin and merosin, and to an integral membrane protein, Drosophila crumbs protein. These latter three proteins have important roles in regulating differentiation and development. The sequence similarity corresponds to the G domain of laminin A chain, which binds heparin and type IV collagen. Analysis of a multiple alignment of these proteins reveals one well-conserved segment corresponding to the part of SHBG that binds to its membrane receptor and another corresponding to the part of protein S that binds to C4b-binding protein. The similarities suggest that ABP, SHBG, and protein S may also have functions related to that of laminin and merosin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017293:Protein S; D051381:Rats; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007797:Laminin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017293:Protein S; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C064360:crb protein, Drosophila; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor