Glypican 3

Glypican-3 is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the GPC3 is_associated_with::gene. The is_associated_with::protein encoded by this gene is a member of the is_associated_with::glypican family.

Structure and function
Cell surface is_associated_with::heparan sulfate is_associated_with::proteoglycans are composed of a membrane-associated protein core substituted with a variable number of heparan sulfate chains. Members of the glypican-related integral membrane proteoglycan family (GRIPS) contain a core protein anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane via a is_associated_with::glycosyl is_associated_with::phosphatidylinositol linkage. These proteins may play a role in the control of is_associated_with::cell division and growth regulation.

Disease linkage
Deletion mutations in this gene are associated with is_associated_with::Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome.

Diagnostic utility
Glypican 3 is_associated_with::immunostaining has utility for differentiating is_associated_with::hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and dysplastic changes in cirrhotic is_associated_with::livers; HCC stains with glypican 3, while liver with dysplastic changes and/or cirrhotic changes does not.