Regenerating Islet Derived Protein 1 Alpha (REG1a)

Pancreatic stone protein is the major component of the protein matrix of calculi in patients suffering from chronic calcifying pancreatitis. Secretory pancreatic stone protein is a glycoprotein in the pancreatic secretion. This protein, called PSPS, occurs in multiple molecular forms due to posttranslational processing.

The abundance of PSPS in pancreatic juice (10 to 14% of total protein) suggests that it plays an important role in exocrine pancreatic function. In vitro experiments show that PSPS inhibits CaCO(3) crystal growth. Since in all the pancreatic secretions are supersaturated in calcium carbonate, the physiologic role of PSPS may be related to its inhibitory properties. This gene encodes a protein that is secreted by the exocrine pancreas.