Abstract
The entire DNA complementary to murine α-fetoprotein mRNA has been cloned in the plasmid vector pBR322 and its complete nucleotide sequence determined. The deduced amino acid sequence identifies a hydrophobic prepeptide of 19 amino acids and the complete primary structure of α-fetoprotein. Its structure reveals extensive homology to serum albumin and suggests that there are 15 disulphide bridges in the α-fetoprotein molecule, all at the same positions as those found in albumin. The AFP molecule can be organized into a three-domain structure almost identical to that of serum albumin, suggesting a common ancestral origin of the two proteins.
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Law, S., Dugaiczyk, A. Homology between the primary structure of α-fetoprotein, deduced from a complete cDNA sequence, and serum albumin. Nature 291, 201–205 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291201a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/291201a0
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