Description
Product Characteristics: Glycoprotein VI (GP6) is a 58-kD platelet membrane glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in the collagen-induced activation and aggregation of platelets. Upon injury to the vessel wall and subsequent damage to the endothelial lining, exposure of the subendothelial matrix to blood flow results in deposition of platelets. Collagen fibers are the most thrombogenic macromolecular components of the extracellular matrix, with collagen types I, III, and VI being the major forms found in blood vessels. Platelet interaction with collagen occurs as a 2-step procedure: (1) the initial adhesion to collagen is followed by (2) an activation step leading to platelet secretion, recruitment of additional platelets, and aggregation. In physiologic conditions, the resulting platelet plug is the initial hemostatic event limiting blood loss. However, exposure of collagen after rupture of atherosclerotic plaques is a major stimulus of thrombus formation associated with myocardial infarction or stroke (Jandrot-Perrus et al., 2000 [PubMed 10961879]).
Target Information: This gene encodes a platelet membrane glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin superfamily. The encoded protein is a receptor for collagen and plays a critical role in collagen-induced platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. The encoded protein forms a complex with the Fc receptor gamma-chain that initiates the platelet activation signaling cascade upon collagen binding. Mutations in this gene are a cause of platelet-type bleeding disorder-11 (BDPLT11). Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2011]