Short description: Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens
Generic protein structure example
Vitamin D-binding protein (DBP), also/originally known as gc-globulin (group-specific component), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GCgene.[1][2] DBP is genetically the oldest member of the albuminoid family and appeared early in the evolution of vertebrates.[3]
Human GC is a glycosylated alpha-globulin, ~58 kDa in size. Its 458 amino acids are coded for by 1690 nucleotides on chromosome 4 (4q11–q13). The primary structure contains 28 cysteine residues forming multiple disulfide bonds. GC contains 3 domains. Domain 1 is composed of 10 alpha helices, domain 2 of 9, and domain 3 of 4.[4]
It is able to bind the various forms of vitamin D including ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), the 25-hydroxylated forms (calcifediol), and the active hormonal product, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol). The major proportion of vitamin D in blood is bound to this protein. It transports vitamin D metabolites between skin, liver and kidney, and then on to the various target tissues.[2][5]
Beyond acting as the carrier protein for vitamin D and its metabolites, DBP also transports free fatty acids,[6] binds to actin[7] and may help prevent actin polymerization during tissue injury.[8] It also might serve as a macrophage activator, contributing to the inflammatory response by modulating T-cell activity.[9]
As Gc protein-derived macrophage activating factor it is a Macrophage Activating Factor (MAF) that has been tested for use as a cancer treatment that would activate macrophages against cancer cells.[10]
Interactive pathway map
Click on genes, proteins and metabolites below to link to respective articles.[§ 1]
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It is synthesized by hepatic parenchymal cells and secreted into the blood circulation.[5]
Regulation
The transcription factors HFN1α is a positive regulator while HFN1β is a dominant negative regulator of DBP expression.[11]
Evolution
Phylogenetic analyses suggest that DBP diverged from ancestral albumin through gene duplication events that occurred after the separation of jawless fish (cyclostomes) from jawed vertebrates approximately 450 million years ago.[12] This timeline is supported by the apparent absence of DBP-like proteins in lampreys and hagfish, though these organisms retain vitamin D transport capability through alternative lipoprotein-mediated mechanisms.[13] DBP is found throughout jawed vertebrates, from bony fish to mammals, suggesting its evolution coincided with the development of calcified skeletons and more sophisticated calcium homeostasis requirements.[14]
Variation
Many genetic variants of the GC gene are known. They produce 6 main haplotypes and 3 main protein variants (Gc1S, Gc1F and Gc2).[15] The genetic variations are associated with differences in circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.[16] They have been proposed to account for some of the differences in vitamin D status in different ethnic groups,[17] and have been found to correlate with the response to vitamin D supplementation.[15]
References
↑"Possible localization of Gc-System on chromosome 4. Loss of long arm 4 material associated with father-child incompatibility within the Gc-System". Human Heredity27 (2): 105–7. Jul 1977. doi:10.1159/000152857. PMID558959.
↑"A structural basis for the unique binding features of the human vitamin D-binding protein". Nature Structural Biology9 (2): 131–6. February 2002. doi:10.1038/nsb754. PMID11799400.
↑ 5.05.1"From vitamin D to hormone D: fundamentals of the vitamin D endocrine system essential for good health". The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition88 (2): 491S–499S. August 2008. doi:10.1093/ajcn/88.2.491S. PMID18689389.
↑"A systematic review of the association between common single nucleotide polymorphisms and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology121 (1–2): 471–7. July 2010. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.03.073. PMID20363324.
"Molecular basis for the three major forms of human serum vitamin D binding protein (group-specific component)". Biochemistry18 (8): 1611–7. April 1979. doi:10.1021/bi00575a036. PMID218624.
"Molecular analysis of the gene for the human vitamin-D-binding protein (group-specific component): allelic differences of the common genetic GC types". Human Genetics89 (4): 401–6. June 1992. doi:10.1007/BF00194311. PMID1352271.
"Receptor-mediated uptake and processing of vitamin D-binding protein in human B-lymphoid cells". The Journal of Biological Chemistry267 (14): 10177–83. May 1992. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(19)50216-2. PMID1374401.
"Chromosomal localization in man and rat of the genes encoding the liver-enriched transcription factors C/EBP, DBP, and HNF1/LFB-1 (CEBP, DBP, and transcription factor 1, TCF1, respectively) and of the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor gene (HGF)". Genomics13 (2): 293–300. June 1992. doi:10.1016/0888-7543(92)90245-N. PMID1535333.
"Complete amino acid sequence of human vitamin D-binding protein (group-specific component): evidence of a three-fold internal homology as in serum albumin and alpha-fetoprotein". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Protein Structure and Molecular Enzymology871 (2): 189–98. June 1986. doi:10.1016/0167-4838(86)90173-1. PMID2423133.
"The vitamin D-binding protein gene contains conserved nucleotide sequences that respond to heavy metal, adipocyte and mitotic signals". Gene54 (2–3): 285–90. 1987. doi:10.1016/0378-1119(87)90499-9. PMID2958390.
"Direct regional assignment of the gene for vitamin D binding protein (Gc-globulin) to human chromosome 4q11-q13 and identification of an associated DNA polymorphism". Human Genetics73 (3): 225–9. July 1986. doi:10.1007/BF00401232. PMID3015768.
"Detection of vitamin D binding protein on the surface of cytotrophoblasts isolated from human placentae". Endocrinology120 (5): 1996–2002. May 1987. doi:10.1210/endo-120-5-1996. PMID3552627.
"Identification of a major endogenous substrate for phospholipid/Ca2+-dependent kinase in pancreatic acini as Gc (vitamin D-binding protein)". FEBS Letters191 (1): 97–101. October 1985. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(85)81001-2. PMID4054306.
"Binding of the apo and holo forms of the serum vitamin D-binding protein to human lymphocyte cytoplasm and membrane by indirect immunofluorescence". Immunology Letters3 (3): 159–62. August 1981. doi:10.1016/0165-2478(81)90120-6. PMID7026425.
"Sequence and organization of the human vitamin D-binding protein gene". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Structure and Expression1216 (3): 385–94. December 1993. doi:10.1016/0167-4781(93)90005-x. PMID7505619.
"Affinity purification of human plasma vitamin D-binding protein". Protein Expression and Purification6 (2): 185–8. April 1995. doi:10.1006/prep.1995.1023. PMID7606167.
External links
Overview of all the structural information available in the PDB for UniProt: P02774 (Vitamin D-binding protein) at the PDBe-KB.