Placental protein 13 (PP13) is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''LGALS13''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
.
Structure and function
Function
It is composed of two identical subunits which are held together by disulfide bonds. The monomer of this protein has structural similarity to several members of the beta-galactoside-binding S-type lectin family, but it could not bind beta-galactoside. This is because the ligand binding site is lack of key residue for binding beta-galactoside.
It is a galectin-like protein. The ligand of this protein is still unknown.
Clinical significance
PP13 levels that are low in the first trimester of pregnancy confers a higher risk for developing
pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by the onset of high blood pressure and often a significant amount of protein in the urine. When it arises, the condition begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy. In severe cases of the disease ...
later in pregnancy.
References
External links
* {{PDBe-KB2, Q9UHV8, Human Galactoside-binding soluble lectin 13