PAEP Antibody

Background:

This gene is a member of the kernel lipocalin superfamilywhose members share relatively low sequence similarity but havehighly conserved exon/intron structure and three-dimensionalprotein folding. Most lipocalins are clustered on the long arm ofchromosome 9. The encoded glycoprotein has been previously referredto as pregnancy-associated endometrial alpha-2-globulin, placentalprotein 14, and glycodelin, but has been officially namedprogestagen-associated endometrial protein. Three distinct forms,with identical protein backbones but different glycosylationprofiles, are found in amniotic fluid, follicular fluid and seminalplasma of the reproductive system. These glycoproteins havedistinct and essential roles in regulating a uterine environmentsuitable for pregnancy and in the timing and occurrence of theappropriate sequence of events in the fertilization process. Anumber of alternatively spliced transcript variants have beenobserved at this locus, but the full-length nature of only two,each encoding the same protein, has been determined. [provided byRefSeq].