hCG
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a glycoprotein hormone with an essential role in pregnancy and maternal adaptation. The CGB5 gene encodes its beta subunit, which confers receptor and biological specificity; the gene is also known as HCG. Browse Assay Genie's current range of hCG research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
hCG is a complex glycoprotein made up of two glycosylated subunits, alpha and beta, which are non-covalently associated. The alpha subunit is identical to those found in the pituitary gonadotropin hormones LH, FSH and TSH, whereas the beta subunits are distinct in each hormone and confer receptor and biological specificity. In pregnancy, hCG stimulates the ovaries to synthesise the steroids that are essential for maintaining the pregnancy, and it has an essential role in maternal adaptation.
The CGB5 gene encodes the beta 5 subunit of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) and belongs to the glycoprotein hormone beta chain family. The mature hormone is a heterodimer of the common alpha subunit and this unique beta subunit, and the beta subunit protein is secreted. CG is produced by the trophoblastic cells of the placenta. The beta subunit of CG is encoded by six genes arranged in tandem and inverted pairs on chromosome 19q13.3, contiguous with the luteinizing hormone beta subunit gene. HGNC therefore places it in the groups of glycoprotein hormone subunits and proteins encoded by multiple genes.
UniProt lists the protein as choriogonadotropin subunit beta 3, while HGNC records the gene as chorionic gonadotropin subunit beta 5, previously named chorionic gonadotropin, beta polypeptide 5 and chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit 5. Because several genes encode closely related beta subunits, the hCG beta protein and its gene should be considered alongside neighbouring family members such as CGB3 and CGB7.
hCG has an essential role in pregnancy and maternal adaptation, making it a central hormone for studying gestation.
hCG stimulates the ovaries to synthesise the steroids needed to maintain pregnancy, a process studied in reproductive endocrinology.
CG is produced by trophoblastic cells of the placenta, so hCG is relevant to studies of placental function.
The beta subunit confers receptor and biological specificity, allowing comparison with LH, FSH and TSH, which share the alpha subunit.
hCG has an essential role in pregnancy and maternal adaptation. It stimulates the ovaries to synthesise the steroids that are essential for maintaining pregnancy. It is produced by trophoblastic cells of the placenta and is secreted as a heterodimer of alpha and beta subunits.
The beta subunit is encoded by six genes arranged in tandem and inverted pairs on chromosome 19q13.3. This page covers CGB5, also called HCG; UniProt names the protein choriogonadotropin subunit beta 3, and older HGNC names include chorionic gonadotropin, beta polypeptide 5.
All four are glycoprotein hormones sharing an identical alpha subunit. The beta subunits differ and confer receptor and biological specificity. The hCG beta gene lies contiguous with the luteinizing hormone beta subunit gene on chromosome 19q13.3. Mouse and rat orthologs are not given in the data.
Other chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit genes and related glycoprotein hormone targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P0DN86; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.