Gla

Gla is a short form or abbreviation that can refer to several unrelated concepts. Without context, its meaning is ambiguous.

In geography, Gla appears as part of place names and transliterations in languages written with non-Latin scripts; as a toponym element, it can occur in regions influenced by Turkish, Persian, or Gaelic linguistic traditions.

In transportation and governance, GLA is the IATA airport code for Glasgow International Airport in Scotland. It is also used as an acronym for the Greater London Authority, the regional government body responsible for Greater London.

In biochemistry, Gla denotes gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues. These residues arise from post-translational gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid in vitamin K–dependent proteins, enabling calcium binding. Gla-containing proteins are central to blood coagulation, including factors II (prothrombin), VII, IX, and X, as well as anticoagulant proteins C and S.

Because Gla spans multiple domains, the intended meaning depends on context, and clarification is usually required to identify which sense is intended.