Background of the antigen
PGCP is a 472 amino acid secreted protein that is primarily detected in blood plasma. PGCP is a carboxypeptidase that potentially is involved in the hydrolysis of circulating peptides. Due to its upregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is suspected that PGCP may be a potential serological marker for HCC. PGCP is a member of the Peptidase M28 family of proteins, which also includes PSM (prostate-specific membrane antigen), metallopeptidases and aminopeptidases. The gene encoding PGCP maps to chromosome 8, which is made up of nearly 146 million bases and encodes about 800 genes. Translocation of portions of chromosome 8 with amplifications of the c-Myc gene are found in some leukemias and lymphomas, and are typically associated with a poor prognosis.In humans, PGCP is found principally in blood plasma. It is a Carboxypeptidase that may play an important role in the hydrolysis of circulating peptides.
