PGA4
PGA4 (pepsinogen A4) is the gene encoding the precursor of pepsin A-4, a secreted digestive endopeptidase of the peptidase A1 family. Once activated in acid, the enzyme breaks down dietary proteins in the stomach. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PGA4 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PGA4 encodes the protein precursor of pepsin, a digestive enzyme in the peptidase A1 family of endopeptidases. The precursor, pepsinogen, is secreted by gastric chief cells. In acidic conditions it undergoes autocatalytic cleavage to form the active enzyme, which functions in the digestion of dietary proteins. The mature enzyme, pepsin A-4, has particularly broad specificity. Bonds involving phenylalanine and leucine are preferred, but many other bonds are also cleaved to some extent.
The PGA4 gene sits in a cluster of related genes on chromosome 11, and each gene in the cluster encodes one of multiple pepsinogens. HGNC places PGA4 in the pepsinogen gene group, which is also listed with the elastases. Related members of this cluster include PGA3 and PGA5. The secreted PGA4 protein is classified under EC 3.4.23.1.
HGNC records the earlier gene names as pepsinogen 4, group I (pepsinogen A). Pepsinogen levels in serum may serve as a biomarker for atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer, which is why pepsinogen genes and proteins are of interest in gastric physiology and disease research. Researchers studying PGA4 often need to distinguish it from its close paralogues, so the choice of reagent and its specificity deserve careful attention.
PGA4 encodes a pepsinogen precursor that is activated in acid and functions in the digestion of dietary proteins.
Serum pepsinogen levels may serve as a biomarker for atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer.
Pepsin A-4 shows broad specificity, preferring bonds involving phenylalanine and leucine while cleaving many others to some extent.
PGA4 lies in a chromosome 11 cluster of related genes, each encoding one of multiple pepsinogens.
PGA4 encodes the precursor of pepsin A-4, a peptidase A1 family endopeptidase. The precursor is secreted by gastric chief cells and autocatalytically cleaved in acid to give active pepsin, which digests dietary proteins with broad specificity.
PGA4 stands for pepsinogen A4, and the mature enzyme is named pepsin A-4. HGNC lists the previous name as pepsinogen 4, group I (pepsinogen A). No alternative gene symbols are recorded in the source data.
Pepsinogen levels in serum may serve as a biomarker for atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. PGA4 is one of several pepsinogen genes clustered on chromosome 11. Ortholog information is not given here, so check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other pepsinogen genes from the chromosome 11 cluster, and similarly named PGAM targets, with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P0DJD7; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.