FETUB
FETUB (fetuin B) is a secreted protease inhibitor of the fetuin family, part of the cystatin superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors. It is required for egg fertilisation, where it helps prevent premature hardening of the zona pellucida. Browse Assay Genie's current range of FETUB research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
FETUB, also called fetuin-B, is a protease inhibitor that is required for egg fertilisation. Its best-defined role is to prevent the zona pellucida from hardening before fertilisation. It probably does this by inhibiting the protease activity of ASTL, a protease that cleaves ZP2 and so triggers zona pellucida hardening. Controlling ASTL activity in this way keeps the egg coat in a state that permits fertilisation.
The protein encoded by the FETUB gene belongs to the fetuin family, which is part of the cystatin superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors. HGNC places it in the gene group cystatins, type 4. The fetuin-B protein is annotated as secreted, and the NCBI Gene summary notes that it may be secreted by cells. Mouse and rat both carry an orthologous gene, Fetub.
Fetuins as a family have been implicated in several diverse functions, including osteogenesis and bone resorption, regulation of the insulin and hepatocyte growth factor receptors, and response to systemic inflammation. These family-level roles give researchers context when studying fetuin B in reproductive biology, protease regulation and related signalling questions. Reagents such as a fetuin-B antibody or a FETUB ELISA kit support work on expression and abundance.
FETUB is required for egg fertilisation and helps prevent premature zona pellucida hardening, making it a focus for studies of gamete function.
Fetuin-B probably inhibits ASTL, the protease that cleaves ZP2, offering a model for how cystatin-superfamily inhibitors regulate proteolysis.
Fetuins have been linked to osteogenesis, bone resorption and insulin and hepatocyte growth factor receptor regulation, so FETUB is studied alongside its relatives.
Fetuins have been implicated in the response to systemic inflammation, which motivates investigation of FETUB in inflammatory settings.
FETUB is a secreted protease inhibitor required for egg fertilisation. It prevents premature zona pellucida hardening before fertilisation, probably by inhibiting ASTL, a protease that cleaves ZP2 and triggers that hardening.
The HGNC approved name is fetuin B and the UniProt protein name is Fetuin-B. No alternative aliases or previous symbols are listed. The protein belongs to the fetuin family and the HGNC gene group cystatins, type 4.
Yes. Orthologous genes named Fetub exist in both mouse and rat. Fetuins as a family have been linked to osteogenesis, bone resorption, insulin and hepatocyte growth factor receptor regulation, and inflammation; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other fetuin family members, cystatin-superfamily protease inhibitors and fertilisation-related proteins.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9UGM5; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.