choriogonadotropin subunit beta 7 (CGB7)

Function

• beta subunit of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
• role for pregnancy & maternal adaptation
• stimulates ovaries to synthesize steroids essential for maintenance of pregnancy

Structure

• belongs to the glycoprotein hormones subunit beta family
• subunit of chorionic gonadotropin, a heterodimer of a common alpha chain identical to LH, FSH, TSH & HCG & a unique beta chain distinct in each of the hormones & confer receptor & biological specificity

Compartment

secreted

Expression

• high expression in the placenta throughout pregnancy

Genetics

• encoded by a cluster of genes that have evolved by duplication from LHB
• hCG-beta is encoded by 6 non-allelic genes (CGB) clustered on chromosome 19q13.3 & named CGB1, CGB2, CGB3, CGB5, CGB7 & CGB8
• 2 specific hCGb proteins that differ by 3 amino acids in positions 2,4 & 117 have been described:
  • type 1 (CGB7) & type 2 (CGB3, CGB5, CGB8)

More general terms

• chorionic gonadotropin [cG]-beta chain (CG-beta, beta-hcG, CGB)

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/608826
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P0DN87.html