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EFNB1 is a member of the Eph family. The cell-surface proteins Ephrins split into two groups, ephrin-A and ephrin-B, based on their structure and function and perform as ligands for Eph receptors. The transmembrane EFNB1 proteins have conserved cytoplasmic tyrosine residues that are phosphorylated upon interaction with an EphB receptor. In addition, EFNB1 transduces outside-in signals by C-terminal protein interfaces which influence integrin-mediated cell attachment and migration.

Galectins are a family of animal lectins with an affinity for beta-galactosides. This family has at least 14 identified members. Galectins share similarities in the CRD (the carbohydrate recognition domain). Galectins are synthesized as cytosolic proteins. Though localized principally in the cytoplasm and lacking a classical signal peptide, galectins can also be stimulated to secretion by non-classical pathways or alternatively targeted to the nucleus. Galectins are involved in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Human Galectin-7 belongs to the prototypical Galectins containing a single CRD, which is initially identified in human epidermis as a monomer. The Galectin-7 expression is induced by tumor suppressor protein p53 and associated with apoptosis. Galectin-7 is a pro-apoptotic protein which functions intracellularlly upstream of JNK activation and mitochondrial cytochrome c release. The correlation of Galectin-7 with the UV-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes presents a critical mechanism in the maintenance of epidermal homeostasis. Human Galectin-7 is localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm.

Follistatin is a single-chain gonadal protein that specifically inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone release. The single FST gene encodes two isoforms, FST317 and FST344 containing 317 and 344 amino acids respectively, resulting from alternative splicing of the precursor mRNA. In a study in which 37 candidate genes were tested for linkage and association with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hyperandrogenemia in 150 families, evidence was found for linkage between PCOS and follistatin. Follistatin functions as an ACTV antagonist. specific inhibitor of the biosynthesis and secretion of pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (fsh).

DCTN2 is a 50kDa subunit of dynactin, which is a macromolecular complex consisting of 10-11 subunits ranging in size from 22 to 150 kDa. Dynactin binds to both microtubules and cytoplasmic dynein. Dynactin is involved in a various cellular functions, including ER-to-Golgi transport, the centripetal movement of lysosomes and endosomes, spindle formation, chromosome movement, nuclear positioning, and axonogenesis. The DCTN2 subunit is present in 4-5 copies per dynactin molecule. DCTN2 is comprised of 3 short alpha-helical coiled-coil domains which mediate association with self or other dynactin subunits. DCTN2 interacts directly with the largest subunit (p150) of dynactin and is able to affix p150 in place. DCTN2 modulates cytoplasmic dynein binding to an organelle, and plays a part in prometaphase chromosome alignment and spindle organization during mitosis. DCTN2 is involved in anchoring microtubules to centrosomes. DCTN2 has a role in synapse formation during brain development.

Filamin is a large (270kd) dimeric actin crosslinking protein from a variety of sources, which helps to stabilize the 3D cortical actin network. The fundamental structure of filamin is well conserved and consists of an actin binding domain at the N-terminus followed by a C-terminal rod domain consisting of numerous repeat segments ranging from 4 in C. elegans to 24 in mammalian cells. Each repeat in the rod domain consists of roughly 100 residues and forms an immunoglobulin like fold. Such immunoglobulin folds have been found in a variety of proteins and are responsible for protein-protein interactions. Filamin Human actin-binding protein (ABP), aka filamin, crosslinks actin filaments into orthogonal networks in cortical cytoplasm and participates in the anchoring of membrane proteins for the actin cytoskeleton. Mammalian filamin interacts directly with at least 30 proteins such as transmembrane receptors, second messenger-associated proteins, protein kinases, phosphatases and cytoskeletal proteins and these interactions have been shown to require one or more of the repeat elements in the rod domain.

Glutamate Decarboxylase 1 Isoform-1, also known as GAD1 iso1 belongs to the group II decarboxylase family. GAD1 iso1 encodes one of several forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase, and is identified as a major autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes. GAD1 iso1 is in charge for catalyzing the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid from L-glutamic acid. In addition, a pathogenic function for GAD1 iso1 has been shown in the human pancreas while it has been identified as an autoantigen & an autoreactive T cell target in insulin-dependent diabetes. GAD1 iso1 play a role in the stiff man syndrome. It has been shown that deficiency in this enzyme has led to pyridoxine dependency with seizures.

UGDH is part of the UDP-glucose/GDP-mannose dehydrogenase family and is a widely expressed enzyme localized in the liver. UGDH transfers UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronate and thus takes part in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate, and heparan sulfate. These glycosylated products are ordinary molecules of the extracellular matrix and participate in signal transduction, cell migration, and cancer growth and metastasis.

GCSF is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes. The active protein is found extracellularly. Three transcript variants encoding three different isoforms have been found for this gene. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factors are cytokines that act in hematopoiesis by controlling the production, differentiation, and function of 2 related white cell populations of the blood, the granulocytes and the monocytes-macrophages. This csf induces granulocytes.

Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted or RANTES is an 8 kDa protein classified as a chemotactic cytokine or chemokine. It has recently been renamed CCL5. RANTES is chemotactic for T cells, eosinophils and basophils and plays an active role in recruiting leukocytes into inflammatory sites. With the help of particular cytokines (i.e. IL-2 and IFN-?) that are released by T cells, RANTES also induces the proliferation and activation of certain natural killer (NK) cells to form CHAK (CC-Chemokine-activated killer) cells. It is also a HIV-suppressive factor released from CD8+ T cells. This chemokine has been localized to chromosome 17 in humans.

ADAM10 is part of the ADAM family which are cell surface proteins with a distinctive structure possessing both potential adhesion and protease domains. ADAM10 cleaves many proteins including TNF-alpha and E-cadherin. ADAM10 cleaves the membrane-bound precursor of tnf-alpha at 76- ala-|-val-77 to its mature soluble form. ADAM10 is in charge for the proteolytic release of several other cell-surface proteins, including ephrin-a2 and for constitutive and regulated alpha-secretase cleavage of amyloid precursor protein. ADAM10 is involved in the normal cleavage of the cellular prion protein. ADAM10 is involved in the cleavage of the adhesion molecule l1 at the cell surface and in the release of membrane vesicles, suggesting a vesicle-based protease activity. ADAM10 controls the proteolytic processing of notch and mediates lateral inhibition during neurogenesis.

Alcohol dehydrogenase 1A (ADH1A) is a member of the alcohol dehydrogenase family. ADH1A has a key role in ethanol metabolism. ADH1A along with coenzyme NAD catalyzes the reversible conversion of organic alcohols to ketones or aldehydes. The physiologic function of ADH1A in the liver is the elimination of ethanol formed by microorganisms in the intestinal tract. ADH1A is monomorphic and predominant in fetal and infant livers, growing to be less active in gestation and only weakly active during adulthood.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 or ICAM1 is a protein, part of the ICAM family of proteins. ICAM1 acts as ligand for integrin alpha-L/beta-2 which is a leukocyte adhesion peptide. Amid migration of leukocytes ICAM1 promotes endothelial apical assembly cups via activation of ARHGEF26/SGEF & RHOG.

IFNs are cytokines that are widely known to induce potent anti-viral activity. IFN-a exerts a variety of other biological effects, including antitumor and immunomodulatory activities and are increasingly used clinically to treat a range of malignancies, myelodysplasias and autoimmune diseases.

Ornithine decarboxylase is the preliminary and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of polyamines and it takes part in the alteration of ornithine to putrescine. ODC1 is a key member of various biological processes, such as cell growth, transformation, differentiation and apoptosis. Overexpression of the ODC1 gene has a vital part in cell proliferation and the progress of cancer.

ADH1C is a member of the zinc-containing alcohol dehydrogenase family which metabolizes a large assortment of substrates, such as ethanol, retinol, other aliphatic alcohols, hydroxysteroids, and lipid peroxidation products. ADH1 is a monomorphic and a key factor in fetal and infant livers, becoming less active in gestation and only weakly active during adulthood.

E-selectin which is also called Endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1, ELAM1, ELAM belongs to a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. Eselectin is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and mediates the interaction of leukocytes and platelets with endothelial cells during an inflammatory response. E-selectin is present in single copy in the human genome and contains 14 exons spanning about 13 kb of DNA.

Histidine NADH Dehydrogenase Fe-S Protein 5 (NDUFS5) belongs to the NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) iron-sulfur protein family. NDUFS5 is a subunit of the mitochondrial membrane respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I), which doesn’t take part in catalysis. Complex I is transferring the electrons from NADH to the respiratory chain.

ICAM-1 also called CD54 is a single chain membrane glycoprotein expressed on the surface of a variety of non-haematopoietic and haematopoietic cell types and has roles in signal transduction, cell signaling and lymphocyte adhesion. ICAM1 binds to integrins such as CD11a / CD18, or CD11b / CD18. ICAM1 is also used by Rhinovirus as a receptor. ICAM-1 is an intercellular adhesion molecule constantly present in low concentrations in the membranes of leukocytes and endothelial cells. When stimulated by cytokine the concentrations significantly increase. ICAM-1 can be stimulated by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA) and is expressed by the vascular endothelium, macrophages and lymphocytes. ICAM-1 is a ligand for LFA-1 which is a receptor found on leukocytes. Upon activation, leukocytes bind to endothelial cells via ICAM-1/LFA-1 and then transmigrate into tissues.
ICAM-1 is implicated in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Levels of ICAM-1 are shown to be notably elevated in patients with SAH.
Soluble ICAM-1 is detectable in the plasma and is elevated in patients with various inflammatory conditions.

EFNA3 belongs to the ephrin (EPH) family. The ephrins and EPH-related receptors include thelargest subfamily of receptor protein-tyrosine kinases which have been implicated in mediating developmental events, especially in the nervous system and in erythropoiesis. Ephrins are divided into the ephrin-A (EFNA) class and the ephrin-B (EFNB) class, based on their structures and sequence relationships. The Ephrins from the EFNA class are anchored to the membrane by aglycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage, while the others from the EFNB class are transmembrane proteins.

Pleckstrin Homology Domain Containing Family F Member 2, also known as PLEKHF2, contains 1 FYVE-type zinc finger and 1 PH domain. PLEKHF2 takes part in early endosome fusion upstream of RAB5, regulates receptor trafficking and fluid-phase transport. PLEKHF2 increases cellular sensitivity to TNF-induced apoptosis.

RCAN2 is a member of the RCAN (Regulator of calcineurin) family that controls the activity of Calcineurin using a valine-rich region placed in their carboxyl tail. RCANs race against NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) to bind to the same docking site in calcineurin, and consequently inhibits or activates calcineurin activity. RCAN2 is a Ca(2+) dependent protein phosphatase which takes part in numerous neuornal functions.

The adipose tissue exclusively expresses and secretes Adiponectin (Acrp30). Acrp30 is involved in various physiological processes such as energy homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, hormonal processes, fatty acid metabolism and obesity.
Adiponectin circulates in the plasma. Decreased levels of Adiponectin are associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, as seen in people with obesity insulin resistance, and diabetes type 2, whose plasma levels of adiponectin are reduced.
The modular structure of Acrp30 is comprised of N-terminal collagenous domain followed by a C-terminal globular domain.
Acrp30 also acts as a significant negative regulator in hematopoiesis and immune systems; it may be involved in ending inflammatory responses through its inhibitory functions. Adiponectin inhibits endothelial NF-kappa-b signaling through a cAMP-dependent pathway, it also inhibits TNF-alpha- induced expression of endothelial adhesion molecules.

DiGeorge syndrome critical region 6-like protein (DGCR6L) shares homology with the Drosophila gonadal protein, it is expressed in gonadal tissues and germ cells, and with the human laminin gamma-1 chain which functions in cell attachment and migration. DGCR6L is located in a region of chromosome 22 involved in the DiGeorge syndrome, one aspect of a wider collection of anomalies referred to as the CATCH 22 syndrome. Moreover, it is one of two functional genes encoding nearly identical proteins which have analogous expression patterns.

Dickkopf-related protein 2 (DKK2) is a member of the dickkopf family, which has a vital role in vertebrate development, where they locally inhibit Wnt regulated processes such as antero-posterior axial patterning, limb development, somitogenesis and eye formation. In adults, Dkks are involved in bone formation and bone disease, cancer and Alzheimer disease. DKK2 contains 2 cysteine rich regions and is implicated in embryonic development through its interactions with the Wnt signaling pathway. DKK2 may function as either an agonist or antagonist of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, depending on the cellular environment and the presence of the co-factor kremen 2. DKK2 protein activity is also controlled by binding to the Wnt co-receptor LRP6 (LDL-receptor related protein 6).