2010 Group Project 6: Difference between revisions

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Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) is an embryo specific glycoprotein which is produced during the early stages of development by the liver, yolk sac as well as a small amount being produced by the gastrointestinal tract. AFP in adults is functionless as levels decrease drastically after birth with very low traces of AFP found in the average older adult with the only women experiencing spikes occurring in AFP levels during the onset of pregnancy and it is in fact through the testing of the blood of pregnant women, that AFP levels can be measured. The function of AFP itself is unknown but due to its similarity to albumin it has been hypothesized that AFP could be a carrier protein or may even play a role in the metabolism of bilirubin. Furthermore, it has been observed that it does play a role in the embryonic and early fetal stages of development as fluctuating levels of AFP indicate the presence of abnormalities within a fetus.   
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) is an embryo specific glycoprotein which is produced during the early stages of development by the liver, yolk sac as well as a small amount being produced by the gastrointestinal tract. AFP in adults is functionless as levels decrease drastically after birth with very low traces of AFP found in the average older adult with the only women experiencing spikes occurring in AFP levels during the onset of pregnancy and it is in fact through the testing of the blood of pregnant women, that AFP levels can be measured. The function of AFP itself is unknown but due to its similarity to albumin it has been hypothesized that AFP could be a carrier protein or may even play a role in the metabolism of bilirubin. Furthermore, it has been observed that it does play a role in the embryonic and early fetal stages of development as fluctuating levels of AFP indicate the presence of abnormalities within a fetus.   


AFP has a molecular weight of around 70,000 daltons and is a single chain alpha globulin that has 590 amino acids and is estimated to have a 5% make up of carbohydrate content. It should be noted that it has an uncanny resemblance to another protein called albumin.
AFP has a molecular weight of around 70,000 daltons and is a single chain alpha globulin that has 590 amino acids and is estimated to have a 5% make up of carbohydrate content. It should be noted that it has an uncanny resemblance to another protein called albumin. The AFP level in human fetal serum is highest during the 13th week of gestation, where it may reach the level of several mg per ml, and accounts for almost a third of the total serum protein. Normal human serum also contains traces of AFP, however fetal AFP level is almost one million times higher than the adult level.
 
==AFP in Pregnancy==





Revision as of 19:08, 1 September 2010

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein

Introduction

brief outline on what will be covered


Background information

what is maternal alpha fetoprotein testing, is it invasive or non-invasive?


What is Alpha fetoprotein

type of protein, structure, function, how and where is it made.

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) is an embryo specific glycoprotein which is produced during the early stages of development by the liver, yolk sac as well as a small amount being produced by the gastrointestinal tract. AFP in adults is functionless as levels decrease drastically after birth with very low traces of AFP found in the average older adult with the only women experiencing spikes occurring in AFP levels during the onset of pregnancy and it is in fact through the testing of the blood of pregnant women, that AFP levels can be measured. The function of AFP itself is unknown but due to its similarity to albumin it has been hypothesized that AFP could be a carrier protein or may even play a role in the metabolism of bilirubin. Furthermore, it has been observed that it does play a role in the embryonic and early fetal stages of development as fluctuating levels of AFP indicate the presence of abnormalities within a fetus.

AFP has a molecular weight of around 70,000 daltons and is a single chain alpha globulin that has 590 amino acids and is estimated to have a 5% make up of carbohydrate content. It should be noted that it has an uncanny resemblance to another protein called albumin. The AFP level in human fetal serum is highest during the 13th week of gestation, where it may reach the level of several mg per ml, and accounts for almost a third of the total serum protein. Normal human serum also contains traces of AFP, however fetal AFP level is almost one million times higher than the adult level.

AFP in Pregnancy


purpose

what disorders does this test detect, information on these disorders


Accuracy

accuracy of the test, compare the test accuracy to other tests, statistcal information.

conclusion

--Mark Hill 01:43, 5 August 2010 (UTC) You can now put your group discussion here. Here is the code to set up a search of PubMed Books - Prenatal Diagnosis and to Search Pubmed Now - Prenatal Diagnosis



References


2010 ANAT2341 Group Projects

Project 1 - Ultrasound | Project 2 - Chorionic villus sampling | Project 3 - Amniocentesis | Group Project 4 - Percutaneous Umbilical Cord Blood Sampling | Project 5 - Fetal Fibronectin | Project 6 - Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein | Group Assessment Criteria

Glossary Links

Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Numbers | Symbols | Term Link

Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 29) Embryology 2010 Group Project 6. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/2010_Group_Project_6

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G