DARC Antibody – Goat Polyclonal

The protein encoded by this gene is a glycosylated membrane protein and a non-specific receptor for several chemokines. The encoded protein is the receptor for the human malarial parasites Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi. Polymorphisms in this gene are the basis of the Duffy blood group system. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Function: Non-specific receptor for many chemokines such as IL-8, GRO, RANTES, MCP-1 and TARC. It is also the receptor for the human malaria parasites Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi.

Subcellular location: Membrane; Multi-pass membrane protein.

Tissue specificity: Found in adult kidney, adult spleen, bone marrow and fetal liver. In particular, it is expressed along postcapillary venules throughout the body, except in the adult liver. Erythroid cells and postcapillary venule endothelium are the principle tissues expressing duffy. Fy(-A-B) individuals do not express duffy in the bone marrow, however they do, in postcapillary venule endothelium.

Polymorphism: DARC is responsible for the Duffy blood group system (FY) [

MIM:110700]. The molecular basis of the Fy(A)=Fy1/Fy(B)=Fy2 blood group antigens is a single variation in position 42; Gly-42 corresponds to Fy(A) and Asp-42 to Fy(B). Individuals that do not produce the Duffy antigen (FY(A-B-)) are more resistant to infection by the malarial parasite Plasmodium vivax. This allele is found predominantly in population of African origin [

MIM:611162].Genetic variations in DARC define the white blood cell count quantitative trait locus 1 (WBCQ1) [

MIM:611862]. Peripheral white blood cell count (WBC) is a common clinical measurement, used to determine evidence of acute infammation or infection. Peripheral WBC is the sum of several cell types including neutrophils and lymphocytes, which are the most common types of WBC, as well as less common cell types such as eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes. Elevated WBC has been associated with risk of coronary heart disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality. White blood cell levels have widespread clinical applications including assessment of patients undergoing chemotherapy and evaluation of infection.

Sequence similarities: Belongs to the G-protein coupled receptor Duffy family.