Search results

EIF4EBP2 belongs to the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein family. Even though EIF4EBP2 protein binds eIF4E and inhibits translation initiation, growth factors can release this inhibition by a phosphorylation-dependent disruption. EIF4EBP2 mediates the regulation of protein translation by hormones, growth factors and other stimuli that signal through the MAP kinase pathway. Regulation of this protein is associated to cell proliferation, cell differentiation and viral infection.

PCDHGL4 belongs to one of three related clusters tandemly linked on chromosome five - the protocadherin gamma gene cluster. These gene clusters have an immunoglobulin-like organization, which indicates that a novel mechanism takes part in their regulation and expression. These neural cadherin-like cell adhesion proteins have a vital role in the establishment and function of specific cell-cell connections in the brain.

V-Set Domain Containing T Cell Activation Inhibitor 1, also known as VCTN1, is part of the B7 costimulatory protein family. Proteins in this family are located on the surface of antigen-presenting cells and interact with ligand bound to receptors on the surface of T cells. High level of the encoded protein has been associated with tumor progression. VCTN1 also takes part in promoting epithelial cell transformation.

Malignant T cell amplified sequence 1 (MCTS1) is an Anti-oncogene which takes part in cell cycle regulation by means of decreasing cell doubling time and encouraging-dependent growth and also by shorting the duration of G1 transit time and G1/S transition. MCTS1 also plays a role as translation enhancer. MCTS1 recruits the density-regulated protein/DENR and binds to the cap complex of the 5'-terminus of mRNAs, thereupon altering the mRNA translation profile; Up-regulates protein levels of BCL2L2, TFDP1, MRE11A, CCND1 and E2F1, while mRNA levels remains constant.

RCAN1 encoded by a gene located in the human chromosome 21, interacts with calcineurin A and inhibits calcineurin-dependent signaling pathways, possibly affecting central nervous system development. RCAN1 is located in the minimal candidate region for the Down syndrome phenotype, and is over expressed in the brain of Down syndrome fetuses. Chronic over expression of this gene may lead to neurofibrillary tangles such as those associated with Alzheimer disease. Three transcript variants encoding three different isoforms have been found for this gene.
DSCR1 Inhibits calcineurin-dependent transcriptional responses by binding to the catalytic domain of calcineurin A, possibly affecting central nervous system development.

MHC Class I is a membrane spanning molecule consisting of 2 proteins. MHC Class I is just about 350 amino acids in length, with roughly 75 amino acids at the carboxylic end comprising the transmembrane and cytoplasmic portions. The remaining 270 amino acids, are divided into three globular domains labeled Alpha-1, Alpha-2 and Alpha-3 prime, with Alpha-1 being closest to the amino terminus and Alpha-3 closest to the membrane. The second portion of the molecule is a small globular protein called Beta-2 Microglobulin. It links primarily with the Alpha-3 prime domain and is essential for MHC stability.
The MHC ability to show a vast range of antigenic peptides for T cell recognition needs a compromise between broad specificity and high affinity. Both MHC class I and MHC class II show an exceptional structure while the peptide main chain is tightly bound and peptide side chains show less restrictive interactions. It is primarily the peptide side-chain contacts and conformational variability that ensures that the peptide-MHC complex presents an antigenically unique surface to T cell receptors.

MHC Class II is consists of 2 membrane spanning proteins. Each of these proteins is roughly 30 kDa, and has of two Globular domains, Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1 and Beta-2. The two regions farthest away from the membrane are alpha-1 and beta-1. The two proteins link without Covalent Bonds. The MHC Class II protein mainly presents peptides, which have been digested from external sources. MHC Class II is normally only expressed by Antigen Presenting Cells (APC) which digest foreign protein. Within the RER the alpha and beta proteins of the molecule, associate with each other, while a third protein called the "invariant chain," is necessary for stabilizing the complex, without it, they will not associate. The MHC-invariant complex is then passed from the RER, into and out of, the Golgi body. It fuses with an Endocytic compartment, where an external protein has been sampled and degraded.

XCL1 is a small cytokine belongs to the XC chemokine family that is also known as lymphotactin. XCL1 is found in high levels in spleen, thymus, intestine and peripheral blood leukocytes, and at lower levels in lung, prostate gland and ovary. Cellular sources for XCL1 include activated thymic and peripheral blood CD8+ T cells. This chemokine attracts T cells. In humans, XCL1 is closely related to XCL2, whose gene is found at the same locus on chromosome 1. XCL1 induces it chemotactic function by binding to a chemokine receptor called XCR1.

EIF2B1 is one of five subunits of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (EIF2B), which is a GTP exchange factor for eukaryotic initiation factor 2 and an essential regulator for protein synthesis. Phosphorylation of eIF2 inhibits GEF activity of EIF2B, an inhibition which requires the eIF2B1 subunit. Defects in eIF2B1 are a cause of leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter (VWM), a brain disease which is characterized by head trauma and motor deterioration.

SPARC, an acronym for “secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine”, is also known as osteonectin or BM-40. It is the founding member of a family of secreted matricellular proteins with similar domain structure. The 303 amino acid, 43 kDa protein contains a 17 aa signal sequence, an N-terminal acidic region that binds calcium, a follistatin domain containing Kazal-like sequences, and a C-terminal extracellular calcium (EC) binding domain with two EF-hand motifs. SPARC is produced by fibroblasts, capillary endothelial cells, platelets and macrophages, especially in areas of tissue morphogenesis and remodeling. SPARC shows context-specific effects, but generally inhibits adhesion, spreading and proliferation, and promotes collagen matrix formation. For endothelial cells, SPARC disrupts focal adhesions and binds and sequesters PDGF and VEGF. SPARC is abundantly expressed in bone, where it promotes osteoblast differentiation and inhibits adipogenesis.

E-cadherin (uvomorulin, cell-CAM120/80) is a calcium dependent cell adhesion molecule expressed predominately in epithelial tissues. It plays an important role in the growth and development of cells via the mechanisms of control of tissue architecture and the maintenance of tissue integrity. Numerous studies have demonstrated that reduction and/or loss of Ecadherin expression in carcinomas correlates positively with the potential of these tumors for invasion and metastasis.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the major etiologic agent of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide, is a spherical, non-enveloped, single stranded RNA virus that is approximately 32 to 34 nm in diameter. HEV belongs to a genus of HEV-like viruses (unassigned genus). HEV has a single-stranded polyadenylated RNA genome of approximately 8 kb. Based on its physicochemical properties it is presumed to be a calici-like virus.

Mycobacterium antigen ESAT6 has been isolated from low molecular weight fractions of the shot-term-culture filtrate (ST-CF) and it can easily be detected in tuberculosis patients. The export of ESAT-6 which is a potent T-cell antigen, and related proteins requires a dedicated secretory apparatus that is encoded by a group of genes, several of which also code for proteins that are recognized strongly by T cells. The ESAT-6 systems can consequently be considered as immunogenicity islands and there is mounting evidence that the equivalent genes are subject to selective pressure imposed by the immune system of the host. This antigen includes many epitopes detectable in the serum of most patients with tuberculosis (more than 90%). By the attempts to obtain the vaccine on the basis of ESAT-6 it was demonstrated that the optimization of adjuvant is very important when using the combination of dioctadecylammonium bromide and monophosphoryllipide. ESAT-6 is very potential as diagnostic for differentiation between the mycobacterial infection and BCG vaccination. The main topic in ESAT-6 using is in antibody production and in test-systems for tuberculosis elaboration. Early secretory antigen 6 (ESAT6) and cell filtrate protein 10 (CFP10) are 2 antigens secreted as a complex by the replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC).

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also called Human herpes virus 4 (HHV-4), is a virusof the herpes family (which includes Herpes simplex virusand Cytomegalo virus. On infecting the B-lymphocyte, the linear virus genome circularizes and the virus subsequently persists within the cell as an episome. The virus can execute several distinct programs of gene expressionwhich can be broadly categorized as being lytic cycle or latent cycle. The lytic cycleor productive infection results in staged expression of a host of viral proteinswith the ultimate objective of producing infectious virions. Formally, this phase of infection does not inevitably lead to lysis of the host cellas EBV virions are produced by budding from the infected cell. The latent cycle(lysogenic) programs are those that do not result in production of virions. A very limited, distinct set of viral proteins are produced during latent cycle infection. These include Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen(EBNA)-1, EBNA-2, EBNA-3A, EBNA-3B, EBNA-3C, EBNA-leader protein (EBNA-LP) and latent membrane proteins(LMP)-1, LMP-2A and LMP-2B and the Epstein-Barr encoded RNAs(EBERs).

Ectonucleoside Triphosphate Diphosphohydrolase 6 or ENTPD6 is an enzyme, akin to E-type nucleotidases. E-type nucleotidases, for instance CD39, are responsible for extracellular nucleotides catabolism. ENTPD6 has four apyrase-conserved areas like all to E-type nucleotidases. Rather spliced transcript agents that codes various isoforms were discovered for the DNA segment.

HEPACAM2 is necessary during prometaphase for centrosome maturation. Following poly-ADP-ribosylation (PARsylation) by TNKS, HEPACAM2 translocates from the Golgi apparatus to mitotic centrosomes and takes a significant part in the formation of robust microtubules for quick movement of chromosomes.

Syndecan-4 is a type I integral membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), which was originally isolated from cloned rat microvascular endothelial cells as an antithrombin-binding molecule, and is now known to be a member of the syndecan family. Syndecan-4 binds to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), midkine, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor via its heparan sulfate chains, and is thought to be involved in various biologic functions such as signaling of bFGF, anticoagulation, and focal adhesion formation. A previous study demonstrated that syndecan-4 is expressed in various tissues, and its level of expression in the kidney is stronger than those of other syndecan family members. Thus, syndecan-4 is thought to play certain roles in maintaining renal function. Moreover, it has been reported that proteoglycans, especially sulfated proteoglycans, are involved in organogenesis of the kidney.

ECSIT homolog (ECSIT) is a ubiquitously expressed protein which has a vital role as an adaptor protein in the cytosolic signal transduction cascade events triggered by Toll receptor activation. ECSIT promotes proteolytic activation of MAP3K1. ECSIT is also involved in the BMP signaling pathway. ECSIT is essential for normal embryonic development. ECSIT was originally classified as a cytoplasmic protein interacting specifically with TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF)-6 in the TLR pathway. ECSIT gene knockdown results in gravely impaired complex I assembly and disrupted mitochondrial function.

Nephroblastoma Overexpressed (NOV) which is encoded by the NOV gene is a part of the CCN (CTGF/CYR61/NOV) family. NOV takes part in reducing tumorgenicity and proliferation of certain cancer cell lines. NOV interacts with numerous proteins and is involved in both internal and external cell signaling. NOV is expressed in particular tumors, including Wilm’s tumor and most nephroblastomas and is also exerts proangiogenic activities.

Erythropoietin receptor, also known as EPOR arbitrates erythropoietin-induced erythroblast proliferation as well as differentiation. During EPO binding, EPOR activates Jak2 tyrosine kinase which activates various intracellular pathways including: Ras/MAP kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and STAT transcription factors. Furthermore, stimulated EPOR has a function in erythroid cell survival. Mutations in EPOR may possibly produce erythroleukemia and familial erythrocytosis. In addition, dysregulation of EPOR can affect on the growth of selected tumors.

PYCR1 is a universal housekeeping enzyme which catalyzes the NAD(P)H-dependent conversion of pyrroline-5-carboxylate to proline. PYCR1 enzyme also takes a physiologic part in the generation of NADP(+) in certain cell types. PYCR1 forms a homopolymer and localizes to the mitochondrion. Mutations in PYCR1 are the source of cutis laxa autosomal recessive type 2B (ARCL2B).

Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 also known as NCR3 is a natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) which assists NK cells in the lysis of tumor cells. Moreover, NCR3 interacts with CD3-zeta (CD247), a T-cell receptor. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5' untranslated region of NCR3 has been related with mild malaria suceptibility. Three transcript variants encoding various isoforms have been found for this gene.