Crystal structure of human ZAG, a fat-depleting factor related to MHC molecules.
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Sanchez LM, Chirino AJ, Bjorkman Pj
Crystal structure of human ZAG, a fat-depleting factor related to MHC molecules.
Science. 1999 Mar 19;283(5409):1914-9.
- PubMed ID
- 10206894 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
Zn-alpha2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is a soluble protein that is present in serum and other body fluids. ZAG stimulates lipid degradation in adipocytes and causes the extensive fat losses associated with some advanced cancers. The 2.8 angstrom crystal structure of ZAG resembles a class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) heavy chain, but ZAG does not bind the class I light chain beta2-microglobulin. The ZAG structure includes a large groove analogous to class I MHC peptide binding grooves. Instead of a peptide, the ZAG groove contains a nonpeptidic compound that may be implicated in lipid catabolism under normal or pathological conditions.