Biomaterial Database

Mammalian alpha 1-antitrypsins: comparative biochemistry and genetics of the major plasma serpin. 1991

S D Patterson

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Queensland, Australia.

1. Human alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1 AT) has been extensively characterized and reviewed. It is the archetypal member of the superfamily of serine proteinase inhibitors, the serpins. As human alpha 1-antitrypsin exhibits a relatively high concentration in plasma and is usually the highest concentration serpin, it can be referred to as the major plasma serpin. 2. alpha 1-Antitrypsin from species other than man has been characterized for two major reasons: (1) for use in a model animal system to assist with the study of the human alpha 1 AT deficiency disease; and (2) to find polymorphism for use in gene mapping and linkage studies or for parentage analysis. 3. The diverse range of reasons for studying alpha 1AT has yielded a vast array of literature that is often not well cross-referenced. 4. The characteristic features of alpha 1AT in all species examined to date will be presented with a view to examining which features are important structurally and functionally from an evolutionary perspective. 5. In mouse, horse, rabbit and guinea pig, multigene families which appear to have arisen from alpha 1AT have been found. The functional and evolutionary implications of these paralogous genes will also be discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D005544	Forecasting	The prediction or projection of the nature of future problems or existing conditions based upon the extrapolation or interpretation of existing scientific data or by the application of scientific methodology.	Futurology,Projections and Predictions,Future,Predictions and Projections
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000515	alpha 1-Antitrypsin	Plasma glycoprotein member of the serpin superfamily which inhibits TRYPSIN; NEUTROPHIL ELASTASE; and other PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES.	Trypsin Inhibitor, alpha 1-Antitrypsin,alpha 1-Protease Inhibitor,alpha 1-Proteinase Inhibitor,A1PI,Prolastin,Serpin A1,Zemaira,alpha 1 Antiprotease,alpha 1-Antiproteinase,1-Antiproteinase, alpha,Antiprotease, alpha 1,Inhibitor, alpha 1-Protease,Inhibitor, alpha 1-Proteinase,Trypsin Inhibitor, alpha 1 Antitrypsin,alpha 1 Antiproteinase,alpha 1 Antitrypsin,alpha 1 Protease Inhibitor,alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015843	Serpins	A family of serine proteinase inhibitors which are similar in amino acid sequence and mechanism of inhibition but differ in their specificity toward proteolytic enzymes. Some members of the serpin family may be substrates rather than inhibitors of SERINE ENDOPEPTIDASES.	Serpin,Serpin Superfamily,Serpin Peptidase Inhibitors,Serpin Protease Inhibitors,Inhibitors, Serpin Peptidase,Inhibitors, Serpin Protease,Peptidase Inhibitors, Serpin,Protease Inhibitors, Serpin,Superfamily, Serpin
D016415	Sequence Alignment	The arrangement of two or more amino acid or base sequences from an organism or organisms in such a way as to align areas of the sequences sharing common properties. The degree of relatedness or homology between the sequences is predicted computationally or statistically based on weights assigned to the elements aligned between the sequences. This in turn can serve as a potential indicator of the genetic relatedness between the organisms.	Sequence Homology Determination,Determination, Sequence Homology,Alignment, Sequence,Alignments, Sequence,Determinations, Sequence Homology,Sequence Alignments,Sequence Homology Determinations