title: Gc protein (vitamin D-binding protein): Gc genotyping and GcMAF precursor activity.
abstract: The Gc protein (human group-specific component (Gc), a vitamin D-binding protein or Gc globulin), has important physiological functions that include involvement in vitamin D transport and storage, scavenging of extracellular G-actin, enhancement of the chemotactic activity of C5a for neutrophils in inflammation and macrophage activation (mediated by a GalNAc-modified Gc protein (GcMAF)). In this review, the structure and function of the Gc protein is focused on especially with regard to Gc genotyping and GcMAF precursor activity. A discussion of the research strategy "GcMAF as a target for drug discovery" is included, based on our own research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, Minamijosanjimacho-2, Tokushima 770-8506 Japan.
authors.forename: Hideko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uto
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein; C101908:vitamin D-binding protein-macrophage activating factor