ACTIVIN-C Antibody – Mouse Monoclonal

This gene encodes the beta C chain of inhibin, a member of the TGF-beta superfamily. This subunit forms heterodimers with beta A and beta B subunits. Inhibins and activins, also members of the TGF-beta superfamily, are hormones with opposing actions and are involved in hypothalamic, pituitary, and gonadal hormone secretion, as well as growth and differentiation of various cell types. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Function: Inhibins and activins inhibit and activate, respectively, the secretion of follitropin by the pituitary gland. Inhibins/activins are involved in regulating a number of diverse functions such as hypothalamic and pituitary hormone secretion, gonadal hormone secretion, germ cell development and maturation, erythroid differentiation, insulin secretion, nerve cell survival, embryonic axial development or bone growth, depending on their subunit composition. Inhibins appear to oppose the functions of activins.

Subunit structure: Homodimeric or heterodimeric through association with alpha and beta subunits, linked by one or more disulfide bonds. Inhibins are heterodimers of one alpha and one beta subunit. Activins are homo- or heterodimers of beta subunits only

By similarity.

Subcellular location: Secreted

By similarity.

Tissue specificity: Expressed in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ref.4

Sequence similarities: Belongs to the TGF-beta family.