Search results

Transferrin is the iron-transport protein of vertebrate serum and donates iron to cells through interaction with a specific membrane receptor, CD71. Transferrin appears to be indispensable for most cells growing in tissue culture.
It is referred to frequently as a growth factor because, in analogy to other growth factor-receptor interactions, proliferating cells express high numbers of transferrin receptors, and the binding of transferrin to their receptors is needed for cells to initiate and maintain their DNA synthesis. Apart from its role as an iron transport protein transferrin acts as a cytokine and has functions that may not be related to its iron-carrying capacity.

Alpha-2 Macroglobulin is a serine proteases inhibitor, which inhibits coagulation by inactivating thrombin and Kallikrein, it inhibits fibrinolysis by inactivating plasmin and involved in transport. Alpha-2-Macroglobulin is a large plasma protein, which is produced by the liver, it’s composed of 4 identical subunits bound together by -S-S- bonds. A2M is able to inactivate many kinds of proteinases (including serine-, cysteine-, aspartic- and metalloproteinases). A2M has a 35 amino acid "bait" region in its structure. Proteinases bind and cleave the “bait” region become bound to A2M. Macrophage receptors recognize the proteinase-A2M complex and clear it from the system. A2M binds to and removes MMP-2 and MMP-9 (active forms of the gelatinase) from the circulation using scavenger receptors on the phagocytes. The levels of Alpha-2-macroglobulin are increased in nephrotic syndrome which is a condition where the kidneys start to leak out some of the smaller blood proteins. Due to its large size, A2-macroglobulin is retained in the bloodstream. Increased production of all proteins causes A2-macroglobulin concentration to increase. Chronic renal failure might lead to amyloid by alpha-2-macroglobulin. A2M is raised in cirrhosis, pregnancy and diabetes.

The PARK7 is a ubiquitously expressed protein involved in various cellular processes including spermatogenesis and fertilization, cancer, RNA-binding, androgen-receptor signaling and oxidative stress. Mutations in the PARK7 are the cause of autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson’s disease 7 (Park7).

Calbindins are Ca-binding proteins belonging to the troponin C superfamily. CALB28K/Calbindin1/CALB1 (D28K/Spot35 protein or cholecalcin, rat 261 aa; mouse 261 aa; human 261-aa, chromosome 8q21.3-q22.1) was originally described as 27-kDA induced by vitamin D in the duodenum of chicken. In mammals, it is expressed in the kidney, pancreatic islets, and brain. In brain, its synthesis is independent of vitamin D. CABP28K contains 4 active and 2 inactive EF-hand Ca-binding domains. The gene for CABP28K is clustered in the same region as carbonic anhydrase. The neurons in the brains of patients with Huntington disease are CAB28K depleted. There are two types of CaBPs: the "trigger"- and the "buffer"-CaBPs. The conformation of "trigger" type CaBPs changes upon Ca2+ binding and exposes regions on protein that interact with target molecules, thus altering their activity. The buffer-type CABP are thought to control the intracellular calcium concentration. Calbindin D-28K is found predominantly in subpopulations of central and peripheral nervous system neurons, and in certain epithelial cells involved in Ca2+ transport such as distal tubular cells and cortical collecting tubules of the kidney, and in enteric neuroendocrine cells.

Leptin is a protein hormone. It is mainly produced in adipose cells that regulate energy homeostasis by restraining hunger. Leptin ties to nuclear receptors in the hypothalamus (arcuate nucleus). Similar to insulin resistance in type II diabetes, in obesity there is a decrease in the sensitivity towards leptin, ending in a failure to identify satiety, even in high levels of energy stores or leptin itself. Full-length cDNA encoding 2 leptin sequences (tLepA and tLepB) and 1 leptin receptor sequence (tLepR) exists in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The full-length cDNA of tLepR is 3423 bp, encoding a protein of 1140 amino acid which contained all functionally important domains conserved among vertebrate leptin receptors. The cDNAs of tLepA and tLepB are 486 bp and 459 bp in length, encoding proteins of 161 aa and 152 aa, respectively. The three-dimensional structures of tLepA and tLepB demonstrates strong conservation of tertiary structure with that of human leptin comprised of 4 helixes.

Ara h 2 comprises of 2 isoforms: Ara h 2.0101 and Ara h 2.0201. Ara h 2.0201 is the most important peanut allergen which binds IgE. Ara h 2.0201 is a Weak inhibitor of trypsin and is a conglutin storage protein which accounts together with Ara h 6.0101 for the majority of the IgE immune response.

HCV is a small 50nm, enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNAvirus in the family Flaviviridae.
HCV has a high rate of replication with approximately one trillion particles produced each day in an infected individual. Due to lack of proofreading by the HCV RNA polymerase, the HCV has an exceptionally high mutation rate, a factor that may help it elude the host's immune response. Hepatitis C virus is classified into six genotypes(1-6) with several subtypes within each genotype. The preponderance and distribution of HCV genotypes varies globally. Genotype is clinically important in determining potential response to interferon-based therapy and the required duration of such therapy. Genotypes 1 and 4 are less responsive to interferon-based treatment than are the other genotypes (2, 3, 5 and 6).

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important signaling protein involved in vessel formation As its name implies, VEGF activity has been mostly studied on cells of the vascular endothelium, although it does have effects on a number of other cell types (e.g. stimulation monocyte/macrophage migration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells ). VEGF mediates increased vascular permeability, induces vasculogenesis and endothelial cell production, promotes cell migration, and inhibits apoptosis. In vitro, VEGF has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesis and cell migration. VEGF is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor. VEGF is located in normal cartilage though only osteoarthritic cartilage expresses the VEGF receptors, NP1, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. The VEGF level in the culture media from OA chondrocytes was more than 3 folds higher than in media from normal chondrocytes

FAD-linked sulfhydryl oxidase ALR (GFER) is a member of the Erv1/ALR family of proteins, which is found in higher and lower eukaryotes. GFER is a hepatotrophic growth factor and flavin-linked sulfhydryl oxidase expressed in a variety of tissues. Moreover, GFER induces the expression of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxyl-ase and ornithine decarboxylases (ODC), which each have a central role in the synthesis of polyamines. The hepatotrophic factor designated augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) is assumed to be one of the factors responsible for the exceptional regenerative capacity of mammalian liver. The GFER gene is located on chromosome 16 in the interval containing the locus for polycystic kidney disease (PKD1).

SNCA or Alpha-synuclein is a protein with undisclosed function that mainly concentrated in the brain tissue, mainly in the tips of the neurons in the presynaptic terminals. Almost 1% of the proteins in the brain tissues are synucleins. The protein is located mainly in the hippocampus, thalamus, cerebellum & neocortex. Smaller amounts of the SNCA protein can be found in the neuroglial cells. The MITF protein regulates the SNCA expression in melanocytic cells.

A human infecting coronavirus (viral pneumonia) called 2019 novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV was found in the fish market at the city of Wuhan, Hubei province of China on December 2019.

The 2019-nCoV shares an 87% identity to the 2 bat-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome 2018 SARS-CoV-2 located in Zhoushan of eastern China. 2019-nCoV has an analogous receptor-BD-structure to that of 2018 SARS-CoV, even though there is a.a. diversity so thus the 2019-nCoV might bind to ACE2 receptor protein (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) in humans.

While bats are possibly the host of 2019-nCoV, researchers suspect that animal from the ocean sold at the seafood market was an intermediate host. RSCU analysis proposes that the 2019-nCoV is a recombinant within the viral spike glycoprotein between the bat coronavirus and an unknown coronavirus.

Chromgranin-A is part of the neuroendocrine secretory protein family. CHGA is located in secretory vesicles of neurons and endocrine cells. Chromgranin-A is a precursor to three biologically active peptides; vasostatin, pancreastatin, and parastatin. These peptides act as autocrine or paracrine negative modulators of the neuroendocrine system. Other peptides, including chromostatin, beta-granin, WE-14 and GE-25, are also derived from the full-length protein. Chromgranin-A has numerous biological activities on some tissues and organs and exerts a large spectrum of homeostatic actions, including antifungal and antimicrobial effect, modulation of cell adhesion, and inhibition of parathyroid hormone secretion.

Proteasome subunit beta type-9 (PSMB9) belongs to the proteasome B-type family which is a 20S core beta subunit. PSMB9 is positioned in the class II region of the MHC (major histocompatibility complex). Expression of the PSMB9 protein is induced by INFG and this gene product replaces catalytic subunit 1 (proteasome beta 6 subunit) in the immunoproteasome.

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein FABP4 is a 15 kDa member of the intracellular fatty acid binding protein (FABP) family, which is known for the ability to bind fatty acids and related compounds (bile acids or retinoids) in an internal cavity. FABP4 is expressed in a differentiation-dependent fashion in adipocytes and is a critical gene in the regulation of the biological function of these cells.
In mice, targeted mutations in FABP4 provide significant protection from hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in the context of both dietary and genetic obesity. Adipocytes obtained from FABP4-deficient mice also have reduced efficiency of ipolysis in vitro and in vivo, and these mice exhibited moderately improved systemic dyslipidemia. Recent studies also demonstrated FABP4 expression in macrophages upon differentiation and activation. In these cells, FABP4 modulates inflammatory responses and cholesterol ester accumulation, and total or macrophage-specific FABP4 deficiency confers dramatic protection against atherosclerosis in the apoE-/- mice. These results indicate a central role for FABP4 in the development of major components of the metabolic syndrome through its distinct actions in adipocytes and macrophages.

Purkinje cell protein 4-like protein 1 (PCP4L1) is a member of the PCP4 family and contains 1 IQ domain. PCP4L1 is a protein-coding gene.

VAMP5 is part of the vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)/synaptobrevin family and the SNARE superfamily. VAMP5 is involved is vesicle trafficking events that are associated with myogenesis.

RAB11A is part of the small GTPase superfamily, Rab family. RAB11A is related with both constitutive and regulated secretory pathways, and takes part in protein transport. RAB11A is a well-known marker for protein trafficking, sorting, and recycling in the endosomal pathway. RAB11A is a main regulator of membrane delivery during cytokinesis.

S100A9 is part of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100A9 protein is localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a wide range of cells, and participates in the regulation of several cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100 genes include no less than 13 proteins which are localized as a cluster on chromosome 1q21. S100A9 is involved in the inhibition of casein kinase and altered expression of this protein is associated with the disease cystic fibrosis.

Beta Defensin 116, also known as DEFB116 is a member of the beta-defensin family.DEFB116 has antibacterial activity. The innate immune system includes antimicrobial peptides that protect multicellular organisms from a diverse spectrum of microorganisms. In addition, Beta-Defensins contain one important family of mammalian antimicrobial peptides.

Oncostatin M is a member of a cytokine family that includes leukemia-inhibitory factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin 6. This gene encodes a growth regulator which inhibits the proliferation of a number of tumor cell lines. It regulates cytokine production, including IL-6, G-CSF and GM-CSF from endothelial cells.

The PARK7 is a ubiquitously expressed protein involved in various cellular processes including spermatogenesis and fertilization, cancer, RNA-binding, androgen-receptor signaling and oxidative stress. Mutations in the PARK7 are the cause of autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson’s disease 7 (Park7).