The protein encoded by this gene is the alpha 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,
afibrinogenemia and renal amyloidosis. Alternative splicing results
in two isoforms which vary in the carboxy-terminus. [provided by
RefSeq].
