PLAC8
PLAC8 (placenta associated 8) is a small human protein, also known as onzin or C15, and previously named placenta specific 8. It belongs to the PLAC8 family and is predicted to bind chromatin and to contribute to thermogenic and host-defence processes. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PLAC8 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PLAC8 does not yet have a curated functional annotation in UniProt, so most of what is known about its role comes from predictions. According to the NCBI Gene summary, PLAC8 is predicted to enable chromatin binding and to be involved in the positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. It is also predicted to take part in the positive regulation of cold-induced thermogenesis.
The summary further predicts that PLAC8 acts upstream of or within several processes, including brown fat cell differentiation, defence response to bacterium and response to cold. In terms of location, the protein is predicted to be found in the azurophil granule lumen and the extracellular region, although UniProt has not annotated a subcellular location. These assignments are computational predictions from the Alliance of Genome Resources and should be read as hypotheses to test, not established mechanisms.
The human PLAC8 gene encodes Placenta-specific gene 8 protein, which UniProt places in the cornifelin family. HGNC classifies the gene in the PLAC8 family and lists the previous name placenta specific 8 and the aliases onzin and C15. The mouse ortholog is Plac8. Researchers studying the PLAC8 gene or protein can use the mouse counterpart for comparative work on thermogenesis and bacterial defence.
PLAC8 is predicted to act in brown fat cell differentiation and to promote cold-induced thermogenesis, making it a candidate for adipose tissue studies.
Predicted chromatin binding and positive regulation of RNA polymerase II transcription point to a possible role in gene regulation.
PLAC8 is predicted to act in the defence response to bacterium and to localise to the azurophil granule lumen.
Predicted involvement in the response to cold makes PLAC8 relevant to research on how cells adapt to temperature stress.
The function of PLAC8 is not curated in UniProt. The NCBI Gene summary predicts that it binds chromatin, positively regulates transcription by RNA polymerase II and cold-induced thermogenesis, and acts in brown fat cell differentiation, response to cold and defence against bacteria.
HGNC lists PLAC8 as placenta associated 8, with the previous name placenta specific 8 and the aliases onzin and C15. UniProt names the product Placenta-specific gene 8 protein. Use all of these terms when searching the literature for older reports.
A mouse ortholog, Plac8, is recorded for the human gene. UniProt assigns the protein to the cornifelin family, while HGNC groups the gene in the PLAC8 family. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other placenta-associated proteins with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9NZF1; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.