This gene encodes a plasma glycoprotein called haptoglobin that binds free hemoglobin. The encoded preproprotein undergoes proteolytic processing to generate alpha and beta subunits that form a disulfide-linked tetrameric protein that plays an important role in the sequestration and clearance of extracorpuscular hemoglobin. Mice lacking the encoded protein exhibit stunted development of lymphoid organs associated with lower counts of mature T and B cells in the blood and secondary lymphoid compartments. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2016]
