Microfibrillar Associated Protein 3 (MFAP3)

Microfibrils of diameter 10-12 nm are found either in association with elastin or independently and are an important component of the extracellular matrix of many tissues. The proteins composing the microfibrils are distinct from elastin. The largest and possibly the most important of these are the fibrillins, 350-kD glycoproteins that form integral parts of the microfibril structure; see fibrillin-1 (FBN1). Another component of microfibrils is microfibrillar-associated protein-2 (MFAP2). Other proteins localized to the elastic fiber microfibrils include the enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX) and microfibrillar-associated protein-1 (MFAP1). Abrams et al. (1995) cloned and characterized microfibrillar-associated protein-3 (MFAP3). Monospecific antibodies prepared against the recombinant expressed protein reacted with the microfibrils found in ocular zonules.