Recombinant Human Hepatopoietin/HPO/Herv1 Protein

GFER is a hepatotrophic growth factor and flavin-linked sulfhydryl oxidase which belongs to the Erv1/ALR family of proteins. GFER is widely expressed in various human tissues. They are two isoforms of this protein. Isoform 1 could regenerate the redox-active disulfide bonds in CHCHD4/MIA40, a chaperone essential for disulfide bond formation and protein folding in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. The reduced form of CHCHD4/MIA40 forms a transient intermolecular disulfide bridge with GFER/ERV1, resulting in regeneration of the essential disulfide bonds in CHCHD4/MIA40, while GFER/ERV1 becomes re- oxidized by donating electrons to cytochrome c or molecular oxygen. Isoform 2 may act as an autocrine hepatotrophic growth factor promoting liver regeneration. GFER could also induce the expression of S- adenosylmethionine decarboxyl-ase and ornithine decarboxylases (ODC). S-adenosylmethionine decarboxyl-ase and ornithine decarboxylases play an important role in the synthesis of polyamines.