Protein Z (PZ or PROZ), vitamin K-dependent protein Z, is a protein encoded in the human by the PROZgene.[5][6]
Protein Z is a member of the coagulation cascade, the group of blood proteins that leads to the formation of blood clots. It is a glycoprotein. Protein Z functions to inhibit blood coagulation by binding to an inhibitor.[7] It is a GLA domain protein and thus Vitamin K-dependent, and its functionality is therefore impaired in warfarin therapy.
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Ichinose A, Takeya H, Espling E, Iwanaga S, Kisiel W, Davie EW (November 1990). "Amino acid sequence of human protein Z, a vitamin K-dependent plasma glycoprotein". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 172 (3): 1139–1144. doi:10.1016/0006-291X(90)91566-B. PMID2244898.
^Sejima H, Hayashi T, Deyashiki Y, Nishioka J, Suzuki K (September 1990). "Primary structure of vitamin K-dependent human protein Z". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 171 (2): 661–668. doi:10.1016/0006-291X(90)91197-Z. PMID2403355.