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Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a type IV collagenase, which is involved in endometrial menstrual breakdown, regulation of vascularization and the inflammatory response. MMP-2 contains a number of distinct domains: a prodomain that is cleaved upon activation; a catalytic domain containing the zinc binding site; a fibronectin like domain believed to have a role in substrate targeting; and a carboxyl terminal (hemopexin like) domain containing 2 N-linked glycosylation. The MMP-2 can degrade an extensive array of substrates including type IV, V, VII and X collagens as well as gelatin type I. In addition, MMP-2 interacts with THBS2, TIMP2, Thrombospondin 1, CCL7 and TIMP4. MMP-2 autocatalytic cleavage in the C-terminal generates the anti-angiogenic peptide, PEX. This process seems to be made possible by binding integrinv/beta3. Defects in the MMP-2 are the cause of Torg-Winchester syndrome (TWS), aka multicentric osteolysis nodulosis and arthropathy (MONA).

NAT6 is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of acetyl groups from acetyl-CoA to acrylamines. NAT6 is located mainly in the cytoplasm and its activity has been recognized by its feasibility to acetylate the N-terminus of proteins using a ping-pong-like mechanism and by its substrate specificity. Given that the NAT6 gene maps to the chromosomal region 3p21.3, which includes at least one tumor suppressor gene, the function of NAT6 plays an important role in cancer.

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is an enzyme located in the cell membrane (bound to it) that is able to dissolve biologically active proteins and is expressed on the surface of lymphoid progenitors, human podocytes, syncytiotrophoblastic cells, and many other epithelial cells including polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Heparanase is an endo β-D-glucuronidase, which degrades heparan sulfate side chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in the extracellular matrix. Heparanase plays an important role in ECM degradation, facilitating the migration and extravasation of tumor cells and inflammatory leukocytes (1,2,3). Upon degradation, heparanase releases growth factors and cytokines that stimulate cell proliferation and chemotaxis (4,5). Heparanase is a heterodimer comprised of a 50 kDa subunit harboring the active site and a 8 kDa subunit. It is produced as a latent 65 kDa precursor and proteolytically processed to its active form (1,6). Heparanase is highly expressed in myeloid leukocytes (i.e. neutrophils) in platelets and in human placenta. Human heparanase was found to be upregulated in various types of primary tumors, correlating in some cases with increased tumor invasiveness and vascularity and with poor prospective survival (7,8).

ECHS1 is part of the hydratase/isomerase superfamily. ECHS1 is localized in the mitochondrial matrix and Expressed in muscle, liver and fibroblasts, with low expression in kidney and spleen, ECHS1 exists as a homohexamer that takes part in the second phase of the mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation pathway.

Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of zinc and calcium-dependent endopeptidases that break down extracellular matrix proteins. The MMP9 is secreted as a 92kDa zymogen. Cleavage of ProMMP-9 results in the active enzyme, having a molecular weight of approximately 82kDa. MMP9 is composed of the following domains: a gelatin-binding domain consisting of three fibronectin type II units, a catalytic domain containing the zinc-binding site, a proline-rich type V collagen-homologous domain and a hemopexin-like domain. MMP9 is produced by the several cell types: monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, osteoclasts and endothelial cells. MMP9 is involved in inflammatory responses, tissue remodeling, wound healing, tumor growth and metastasis. MMP9 may also play an important part in local proteolysis of the extracellular matrix and in leukocyte migration, as well as in bone osteoclastic resorption. MMP9 cleaves type IV and type V collagens into large C-terminal three quarter fragments and shorter N-terminal one quarter fragments. MMP9 can also degrade fibronectin but not laminin or Pz-peptide.
MMP9 defects may be a cause of susceptibility to intervertebral disc disease (IDD), also known as lumbar disk herniation (LDH).

NAT1 is a member of the arylamine N-acetyltransferase family. NAT1 catalyzes N- or O-acetylation of heterocyclic and arylamine substrates in the detoxification of a large number of drugs. Several alleles triggering high levels of N-acetyltransferase activity were linked to colon and urinary bladder cancers, since NAT1 also bioactivate numerous known carcinogens. NAT1 aids metabolize drugs and other xenobiotics, and takes part in the detoxification of a plethora of hydrazine and arylamine drugs.

GLO1 is involved in the catalysis and formation of S-lactoyl-glutathione from methylglyoxal condensation and reduced glutatione. GLO1 is linked to HLA and is localized to 6p21.3-p21.1, between HLA and the centromere. GLO1 enzyme is ubundantly expressed and present in numerous tumor cell lines, in which its concentration is often upregulated ubiquitisly. GLO1 is a major susceptible gene for autism in an ethnic Chinese population from Taiwan. GLO1 might be involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. GLO1 plays a role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Overexpression of GLO1 is associated with kidney tumor.

ST3 Beta-Galactoside Alpha-2,3-Sialyltransferase 5, also know as ST3GAL5 belongs to the glycosyltransferase family 29 and localized to the Golgi apparatus. ST3GAL5 is known to play a part in the induction of cell differentiation, modulation of cell proliferation, maintenance of fibroblast morphology, signal transduction, and integrin-mediated cell adhesion. ST3GAL5 is a type II membrane protein which catalyzes the formation of GM3 with lactosylceramide as the substrate. Mutation in this ST3GAL5 has been connected with Amish infantile epilepsy syndrome. Transcript variants encoding various isoforms have been found for this gene.

Phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP) is discovered in all tissues including red cells, lymphocytes and cultured fibroblasts (at protein level). PGP is most active in skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle. The catalytic activity of PGP is 2-phosphoglycolate + H2O = glycolate + phosphate. Diseases associated with PGP include tardive dyskinesia and polycystic kidney disease.

METTL1 is recognized as tRNA (guanine-N(7)-)-methyltransferase that is a part of the methyltransferase superfamily. METTL1 displays high sequence similarity to yeast ORF YDL201w and can be inactivated by phosphorylation. METTL1 protein has a conserved S-adenosylmethionine-binding motif and ccatalyzes the formation of N(7)-methylguanine at position 46 (m7G46) in tRNA.

Full-length recombinant human neutrophil MMP-8, latent form.
Matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8), degrades interstitial collagens, acting preferentially on collagen type I.
Increased full-length MMP-8 protein was associated with infiltration into the skin of neutrophils, which are the major cell type that expresses MMP-8.
MMP-8 is synthesized and stored in specific granules in neutrophil leukocytes. MMP-8 activity is therefore regulated by factors such as surface-bound ligands (IgG or complement components) that release it through degranulation.Once released and activated through proteolytic or oxidative mechanisms, MMP-8 plays a major role in the connective tissue turnover that accompanies inflammatory processes.

Alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase 5 or ST6GALNAC5, is part of the glycosyltransferase 29 group of proteins. ST6GALNAC5 is a sialyltransferase that takes part in the synthesis of ganglioside GD1a. This protein is part of the protein glycosylation transduction, meaning, modification of proteins. ST6GALNAC5 is expressed strictly in the brain tissue, and is a crucial component in breast cancer cells metastasis to the brain tissue. It is thought to enable cancer cells to go through the blood-brain barrier.

GARS is an (alpha)2 dimer which is a member of the class II family of tRNA synthetases. GARS is a glycyl-tRNA synthetase, one of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases which charge tRNAs with their cognate amino acids. GARS catalyzes the attachment of glycine to tRNA(Gly). In addition, GARS is able to produce diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A), which is a universal pleiotropic signaling molecule required for cell regulation pathways, by direct condensation of two ATPs. GARS has been demonstrated to be a target of autoantibodies in the human autoimmune diseases, polymyositis or dermatomyositis.

TOP1 is an important nuclear enzyme that interconverts supercoiled DNA to the necessary topological conformations for standard DNA replication and transcription. TOP1 is the target antigen for TOP1 autoantibodies. TOP1 antibodies are a specific marker in scleroderma patients (specificity 98-100%) and are related with the existence of diffuse skin involvement and pulmonary fibrosis. In human tissues top1 enzyme is primarily synthesized as a protein with a molecular weight of 100-kDa. Most of this precursor is then proteolytically processed to a 70-kDa size, from which the TOP1 antigen has derived its name.

GOT2 is a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme which is found in cytoplasmic and inner-membrane mitochondrial forms, GOT1 and GOT2. GOT2 is invloved in amino acid metabolism and the urea and tricarboxylic acid cycles. The 2 enzymes are homodimeric and demonstrate close homology.

AKR7A2 participates in the detoxification of aldehydes and ketones. AKR7A2 catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of succinic semialdehyde to gamma-hydroxybutyrate. AKR7A2 is involved in producing the neuromodulator gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). AKR7A2 has extensive substrate specificity. AKR7A2 shows NADPH-dependent aldehyde reductase activity towards 2-carboxybenzaldehyde, 2-nitrobenzaldehyde and pyridine-2-aldehyde (in vitro). AKR7A2 reduces 1,2-naphthoquinone and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (in vitro). AKR7A2 reduces the dialdehyde protein-binding form of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to the non-binding AFB1 dialcohol. AKR7A2 takes part in protection of liver against the toxic and carcinogenic effects of AFB1, a potent hepatocarcinogen.

HPSE also known as Heparanase-1 is an enzyme which cleaves heparan sulfate proteoglycans to allow cell movement through changing the extracellular matrix. In fact, the Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are major components of the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. In addition, this cleavage can release bioactive molecules from the extracellular matrix. HPSE is significant for the overall degradation of proteins in lysosomes.

DESI1 belongs to the DeSI family and contains 1 PPPDE peptidase domain. This protein is a protease which deconjugates SUMO1, SUMO2 and SUMO3 from some substrate proteins and has isopeptidase but not SUMO-processing activity. DESI1 desumoylates ZBTB46.

Serine racemase (SRR) is an enzyme which generates D-serine from L-serine. D-serine functions as a neuronal signaling molecule by activating NMDA receptors in the brain. Mammalian SRR is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent enzyme which catalyzes both the racemization of L-serine to D-serine and also the elimination of water from L-serine, producing pyruvate and ammonia. The SRR enzyme is physiologically stimulated by divalent cations (e.g., magnesium) and is allosterically activated by the magnesium/ATP complex.

MMP28, which belongs to the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, takes part in the breakdown of extracellular matrix for both normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction and tissue remodeling, and disease processes, like asthma and metastasis. MMP28 is a secreted enzyme which degrades casein. MMP28 participates in tissue homeostasis and in wound repair.

ECH1 is a member of the hydratase/isomerase superfamily. ECH1 demonstrates high sequence similarity to enoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) hydratases of more than a few species, mostly within a conserved domain characteristic of these proteins. ECH1 contains a C-terminal peroxisomal targeting sequence, localizes to both the peroxisome and the mitochondria. peroxisomal takes part in the auxiliary step of the fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway specifically functioning to catalyze the isomerization of 3-trans, 5-cis-dienoyl-CoA to 2-trans, 4-transdienoyl-CoA.