Gene Symbol | Gpx4 |
Entrez Gene ID | 29328 |
Full Name | glutathione peroxidase 4 |
Synonyms | Gshpx-4,Phgpx,gpx-4,snGpx |
General protein information |
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Gene Type | protein-coding |
Organism | Rattus norvegicus(Norway rat) |
Genome | |
Summary | The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the glutathione peroxidase family, members of which catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, organic hydroperoxides and lipid hydroperoxides, and thereby protect cells against oxidative damage. Several isozymes of this gene family exist in vertebrates, which vary in cellular location and substrate specificity. This isozyme has a high preference for lipid hydroperoxides and protects cells against membrane lipid peroxidation and cell death. It is also required for normal sperm development; thus, it has been identified as a 'moonlighting' protein because of its ability to serve dual functions as a peroxidase, as well as a structural protein in mature spermatozoa. Disruption of this gene in mouse spermatocytes is associated with male infertility. This isozyme is also a selenoprotein, containing the rare amino acid selenocysteine (Sec) at its active site. Sec is encoded by the UGA codon, which normally signals translation termination. The 3' UTRs of selenoprotein mRNAs contain a conserved stem-loop structure, designated the Sec insertion sequence (SECIS) element, that is necessary for the recognition of UGA as a Sec codon, rather than as a stop signal. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding isoforms with different subcellular localization have been described for this gene. Pseudogenes of this locus have been identified on chromosomes 1, 10 and 14. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017]. |