Description
Product Characteristics:
alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase(AMACR/P504S) is Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer is now widespread in the United States among men of all ages. However PSA has limited specificity because benign disease, including prostatic enlargement and inflammation, can increase PSA levels. Thus, a more specific prostate cancer markers is needed. One such potential marker is AMACR, an enzyme that is involved in peroxisomal beta-oxidation of dietary branched-chain fatty acids. Recent studies have shown that, compared with expression in normal or benign prostate epithelium, AMACR is consistently overexpressed in prostate cancer epithelium, making it a specific marker for cancer cells within the prostate gland. Furthermore, overexpression of AMACR may increase the risk of prostate cancer because its expression is increased in premalignant lesions (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia).
Synonyms: 2 arylpropionyl CoA epimerase, 2 methylacyl CoA racemase, 2-methylacyl-CoA racemase, Alpha methylacyl-CoA racemase deficiency, included, Alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase, alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase isoform 1, P504S, Amacr, AMACR, AMACR deficiency, included, CBAS4, P504S, RACE, 2 arylpropionyl CoA epimerase, Alpha methylacyl Coenzyme A racemase, Alpha methylacyl CoA racemase, AMACR_HUMAN, EC 5.1.99.4, Da1-8, RACE, RM, Macr 1, Macr1, Methylacyl CoA racemase alpha.
Target Information: This gene encodes a racemase. The encoded enzyme interconverts pristanoyl-CoA and C27-bile acylCoAs between their (R)- and (S)-stereoisomers. The conversion to the (S)-stereoisomers is necessary for degradation of these substrates by peroxisomal beta-oxidation. Encoded proteins from this locus localize to both mitochondria and peroxisomes. Mutations in this gene may be associated with adult-onset sensorimotor neuropathy, pigmentary retinopathy, and adrenomyeloneuropathy due to defects in bile acid synthesis. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described. Read-through transcription also exists between this gene and the upstream neighboring C1QTNF3 (C1q and tumor necrosis factor related protein 3) gene. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2011]