Background
The protein encoded by this gene is the gamma component of fibrinogen, a blood-borne
glycoprotein comprised of three pairs of nonidentical polypeptide chains. Following vascular
injury, fibrinogen is cleaved by thrombin to form fibrin which is the most abundant
component of blood clots. In addition, various cleavage products of fibrinogen and fibrin
regulate cell adhesion and spreading, display vasoconstrictor and chemotactic activities, and
are mitogens for several cell types. Mutations in this gene lead to several disorders,
including dysfibrinogenemia, hypofibrinogenemia and thrombophilia. Alternative splicing
results in transcript variants encoding different isoforms.
