9ggp

Structural highlights

Disease

A1AT_HUMAN Defects in SERPINA1 are the cause of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) [MIM:613490. A disorder whose most common manifestation is emphysema, which becomes evident by the third to fourth decade. A less common manifestation of the deficiency is liver disease, which occurs in children and adults, and may result in cirrhosis and liver failure. Environmental factors, particularly cigarette smoking, greatly increase the risk of emphysema at an earlier age.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Function

A1AT_HUMAN Inhibitor of serine proteases. Its primary target is elastase, but it also has a moderate affinity for plasmin and thrombin. Irreversibly inhibits trypsin, chymotrypsin and plasminogen activator. The aberrant form inhibits insulin-induced NO synthesis in platelets, decreases coagulation time and has proteolytic activity against insulin and plasmin.[:]^{[4] [5]} Short peptide from AAT: reversible chymotrypsin inhibitor. It also inhibits elastase, but not trypsin. Its major physiological function is the protection of the lower respiratory tract against proteolytic destruction by human leukocyte elastase (HLE).[:]^{[6] [7]}

References

1. ↑ Seyama K, Nukiwa T, Takabe K, Takahashi H, Miyake K, Kira S. Siiyama (serine 53 (TCC) to phenylalanine 53 (TTC)). A new alpha 1-antitrypsin-deficient variant with mutation on a predicted conserved residue of the serpin backbone. J Biol Chem. 1991 Jul 5;266(19):12627-32. PMID:1905728
2. ↑ Holmes MD, Brantly ML, Fells GA, Crystal RG. Alpha 1-antitrypsin Wbethesda: molecular basis of an unusual alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency variant. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1990 Aug 16;170(3):1013-20. PMID:2390072
3. ↑ Graham A, Kalsheker NA, Bamforth FJ, Newton CR, Markham AF. Molecular characterisation of two alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency variants: proteinase inhibitor (Pi) Null(Newport) (Gly115----Ser) and (Pi) Z Wrexham (Ser-19----Leu). Hum Genet. 1990 Oct;85(5):537-40. PMID:2227940
4. ↑ Tanaka N, Sekiya S, Takamizawa H, Kato N, Moriyama Y, Fujimura S. Characterization of a 54 kDa, alpha 1-antitrypsin-like protein isolated from ascitic fluid of an endometrial cancer patient. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1991 Jun;82(6):693-700. PMID:1906855
5. ↑ Niemann MA, Narkates AJ, Miller EJ. Isolation and serine protease inhibitory activity of the 44-residue, C-terminal fragment of alpha 1-antitrypsin from human placenta. Matrix. 1992 Jun;12(3):233-41. PMID:1406456
6. ↑ Tanaka N, Sekiya S, Takamizawa H, Kato N, Moriyama Y, Fujimura S. Characterization of a 54 kDa, alpha 1-antitrypsin-like protein isolated from ascitic fluid of an endometrial cancer patient. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1991 Jun;82(6):693-700. PMID:1906855
7. ↑ Niemann MA, Narkates AJ, Miller EJ. Isolation and serine protease inhibitory activity of the 44-residue, C-terminal fragment of alpha 1-antitrypsin from human placenta. Matrix. 1992 Jun;12(3):233-41. PMID:1406456
8. ↑ Lowen SM, Waudby CA, Jagger AM, Aldobiyan I, Laffranchi M, Fra A, Christodoulou J, Irving JA, Lomas DA. High-resolution characterization of ex vivo AAT polymers by solution-state NMR spectroscopy. Sci Adv. 2025 May 9;11(19):eadu7064. PMID:40333971 doi:10.1126/sciadv.adu7064