Erythropoietin
Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27806-0_466
Synonyms
ESF (erythropoiesis stimulating factor); ECSA (erythroid colony stimulating activity)
Definition
Erythropoietin (from Greek erythro for red, and poietin to make) is a small glycoprotein hormone that is essential for the production of red blood cells. Erytropoietin (Epo) promotes the survival, proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells (CFU-E, BFU-E) to mature erythrocytes and initiates hemoglobin synthesis. Cells responsive to Epo have been identified in adult bone marrow, fetal liver and adult spleen.
Characteristics
Epo is produced and secreted primarily in adult kidney and fetal liver cells. It is an acidic hormone with a molecular weight of 34–37 kD. Epo is synthesized as a 193 amino acid precursor that is cleaved to yield an active protein of 166 amino acids. It is relatively heat- and pH-stable (pI=4.5), is N-glycosylated at asparagine residues 24, 36 and 83 and O-glycosylated at serine 126. Epo is also sialylated and contains two disulfide bonds at...
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References
- 1.Krantz SB (1992) Erythropoietin. Blood 77:419–434Google Scholar
- 2.Jelkman W (1992) Erythropoietin, structure, control of production and function. Physiol Rev 72:449–489Google Scholar
- 3.Wojchowski DM, Gregory RC, Miller CP, Pandit AK, Pircher TJ (1999) Signal transduction in the erythropoietin receptor system. Exp Cell Res 253:143–156PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 4.McMullin MF, Percy JM (1999) Erythropoietin Receptor and Hematological Disease. Am J Hematol 60:55–60Google Scholar
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