Entrez 2719 | Ensembl ENSG00000147257 | |
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External IDs MGI: 104903 HomoloGene: 20944 GeneCards: GPC3 | ||
Glypican-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GPC3 gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the glypican family.
Contents
Structure and function
Cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans are composed of a membrane-associated protein core substituted with a variable number of heparan sulfate chains. Members of the glypican-related integral membrane proteoglycan family (GRIPS) contain a core protein anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane via a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol linkage. These proteins may play a role in the control of cell division and growth regulation.
Disease linkage
Deletion mutations in this gene are associated with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome.
Diagnostic utility
Glypican 3 immunostaining has utility for differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and dysplastic changes in cirrhotic livers; HCC stains with glypican 3, while liver with dysplastic changes and/or cirrhotic changes does not.