Uterine serpin

[1] Termed uterine milk proteins, their identification as members of the serpin superfamily was based on sequencing of the cDNA for the sheep gene.

[6] Examination of completed genomes indicates that uterine serpin genes do not exist in primates, mouse, rat, rabbit, marsupials, platypus, chicken or zebrafish.

[2][5][16][17] In addition, several key amino acids in the hinge region of the reactive center loop which are important for protease inhibitory activity have not been conserved in uterine serpins.

[18] Ovine uterine serpin binds pregnancy-associated glycoproteins,[17] which are inactive aspartic proteases secreted in large amounts by the ungulate placenta.

[21] Another possible role for uterine serpins is in the inhibition of immune cell proliferation during pregnancy to provide protection for the allogeneically-distinct conceptus.

[22] A single nucleotide polymorphism at position 1269 of the bovine uterine serpin gene has been associated with productive life[23] in cattle populations.