Recombinant Proteins
Product List
GPC3 Human
Glypican-3 Human Recombinant
GPC3 Human Recombinant produced in Sf9 Baculovirus cells is a single, glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 544 amino acids (25-559a.a.) and having a molecular mass of 61.8kDa (Molecular size on SDS-PAGE will appear at approximately 50-70kDa). GPC3 is expressed with a 6 amino acids His tag at C-Terminus and purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Sf9, Baculovirus cells.
GPC4 511 aa Human
Glypican-4 511 aa Human Recombinant
GPC4 Human
Glypican-4 Human Recombinant
Introduction
Glypicans are a family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans that are anchored to the cell surface via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor . They are one of the two major families of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, with the other being syndecans . In mammals, six glypicans have been identified, named GPC1 through GPC6 . Glypicans are also found in other organisms, such as Drosophila and C. elegans .
Glypicans are characterized by their core protein, which is approximately 60-70 kDa in size, and their heparan sulfate chains . They are expressed in various tissues, including the liver, kidney, and placenta during fetal development . Glypican-3 (GPC3), for example, is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells . The expression patterns of glypicans can vary significantly, with some being more prevalent in certain tissues or developmental stages .
Glypicans play crucial roles in developmental morphogenesis and are involved in regulating several cell signaling pathways, including Wnt, Hedgehog, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling . They can act as co-receptors, facilitating the interaction between growth factors and their receptors . Glypicans are also implicated in immune responses and pathogen recognition, although their exact roles in these processes are still being studied .
The mechanisms by which glypicans exert their effects involve interactions with other molecules and cells. They can bind to growth factors, such as Wnt and Hedgehog, and modulate their signaling pathways . Glypicans can either stimulate or inhibit these pathways, depending on the context . For example, GPC3 can inhibit Hedgehog signaling by competing with the Hedgehog receptor for ligand binding . The heparan sulfate chains of glypicans are essential for their interactions with growth factors and other signaling molecules .
The expression and activity of glypicans are tightly regulated at multiple levels. Transcriptional regulation involves various transcription factors that bind to the promoter regions of glypican genes . Post-translational modifications, such as glycosylation and cleavage by furin-like convertases, also play critical roles in modulating glypican function . Additionally, glypicans can be released from the cell surface by the enzyme Notum, which cleaves the GPI anchor .
Glypicans have significant potential in biomedical research, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic strategies. GPC3, for instance, is being explored as a target for cancer immunotherapy, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma . GPC3-based vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies are under investigation . Glypicans are also being studied as biomarkers for various diseases, including cancer and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) .
Glypicans are involved in various stages of the life cycle, from development to aging and disease. During development, they play essential roles in morphogenesis and organogenesis by regulating growth factor signaling . In adults, glypicans continue to modulate cell signaling pathways and maintain tissue homeostasis . Dysregulation of glypican expression or function can lead to developmental disorders, overgrowth syndromes, and cancer .
