title: Structure, processing and properties of surfactant protein A.
abstract: Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is a highly ordered, oligomeric glycoprotein that is secreted into the airspaces of the lung by the pulmonary epithelium. The in vitro activities of protein suggest diverse roles in pulmonary host defense and surfactant homeostasis, structure and surface activity. Functional mapping of SP-A using directed mutagenesis has identified domains which interact with surfactant phospholipids, alveolar type II cells and microbes. Recently developed genetically manipulated animal models are beginning to clarify the critical physiological roles for SP-A in the normal lung, and in the pathophysiology of pulmonary disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Bethesda Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45267-0564, USA. frank.mccormack@uc.edu
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: McCormack
mesh_terms: D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010743:Phospholipids; D011510:Proteolipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants