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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8, also known as MAPK8, is a part of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases an integration point for multiple biochemical signals which take part in a various cellular processes. MAPK8 is a protein coding gene which is also involved in UV radiation induced apoptosis that is associated to cytochrom c-mediated cell death pathway.

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 6 (MAP2K6) is a part of the dual specificity protein kinase family. MAP2K6 phosphorylates and activates p38 MAP kinase in response to inflammatory cytokines or environmental stress. MAP2K6 is a vital component of the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway. MAP2K6 takes part in various cellular processes such as stress induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 protein (Mfge8) is pleiotropic secreted glycoprotein which promotes mammary gland morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. Mfge8 has also an imperative role in tissue homeostasis and the prevention of inflammation. Mfge8 functions as a bridge between phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells and Integrin alpha V beta 3 on phagocytes, leading to the clearance of apoptotic debris.

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase type 5 (ACP5) is involved in osteopontin and bone sialoprotein dephosphorylation. ACP5 is an iron containing glycoprotein which catalyzes the conversion of orthophosphoric monoester to alcohol and orthophosphate. ACP5 expression seems to increase in some pathological states such as Gaucher and Hodgkin diseases, the hairy cell, the B-cell, and the T-cell leukemias. ACP5 is the most basic of the acid phosphatases and is the only form not inhibited by L(+)-tartrate.

Myxoma Resistance Protein 1 (MX1) is a member of the dynamin family and contains 1 GED domain. MX1 is an Interferon-induced dynamin-like GTPase with antiviral activity against rabies virus (RABV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and murine pneumonia virus (MPV). MX1 is ubiquitously expressed. MX1 is induced by type I and type III interferons.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 8 (CCL8) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that was once called monocyte chemotactic protein-2 (MCP-2). The CCL8 protein is produced as a precursor containing 109 amino acids, which is cleaved to produce mature CCL8 containing 75 amino acids. The gene for CCL8 is encoded by 3 exons and is located within a large cluster of CC chemokines on chromosome 17q11.2 in humans. MCP-2 is chemotactic for and activates a many different immune cells, including mast cells, eosinophils and basophils, (that are implicated in allergic responses), and monocytes, T cells, and NK cells that are involved in the inflammatory response. CCL8 elicits its effects by binding to several different cell surface receptors called chemokine receptors. These receptors include CCR1, CCR2B and CCR5.

The OmpA protein is one of the main outer-membrane proteins of a large array of Gram-negative bacteria such as A.salmonicida, Shigella dysenteriae and E.coli.OmpA’s major physiological functions include maintenance of the structural integrity and morphology of the cells and porin activity, as well as a role in conjugation and bacteriophage binding.Achromogenic atypical Aeromonas salmonicida is the causative agent of goldfish ulcer disease.Virulence of this bacterium is associated with the production of a paracrystalline outer membrane A-layer protein.The species specific structural gene for the monomeric form of A-protein was cloned into a pET-3d plasmid in order to express and produce a recombinant form of the protein in E.coli BL21(DE3). The induced protein was isolated from inclusion bodies by a simple solubilization-renaturation procedure and purified by ion exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose to over 95% pure monomeric protein.Recombinant A-protein was compared by biochemical, immunological and molecular methods with the A-protein isolated from atypical A.salmonicida bacterial cells by the glycine and the membrane extraction methods.

CMV belongs to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae which includes herpes simplex virustypes 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barrvirus. The herpesviruses share a characteristic ability to remain latentover long periods. CMV is a double-stranded linear DNA virus with 162 hexagonal protein capsomeres surrounded by a lipid membrane. CMV has the largest genome of the herpes viruses, ranging from 230-240 kilobase pairs. Human CMV is composed of unique and inverted repeats that include the existence of 4 genome isomers caused by inversion of L-S genome components (class E). Replication may be divided into immediate early, delayed early, and late gene expression based on time of synthesis after infection. The DNA is replicated by rolling circles. In vitro, CMV replicates in human fibroblasts.

Myosin light polypeptide 6 (MYL6) is a hexameric ATPase cellular motor protein. MYL6 is composed of 2 heavy chains, 2 nonphosphorylatable alkali light chains, and 2o phosphorylatable regulatory light chains. MYL6 is a myosin alkali light chain which is expressed in smooth muscle and non-muscle tissues. MYL6 partakes in generating the force for cellular movements, thus having an imperative role in overall cellular function.

PSMA6 belongs to the peptidase T1A family, which is a 20S core alpha subunit. The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with an extremely organized ring-shaped 20S core structure. The core structure consists of 4 rings of 28 non-identical subunits; 2 rings consist of 7 alpha subunits and 2 rings consist of 7 beta subunits. PSMA6 is spread all over eukaryotic cells in large quantities and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent procedure in a non-lysosomal pathway.

CCL23 (MIP-3) is a ligand for the CCR1chemokine receptor. CCL23 is one of several cytokine genes clustered on the q-arm of chromosome 17, in a locus containing several other CC chemokines. MIP-3 chemoattracts monocytes, resting T-lymphocytes and neutrophils, but not activated lymphocytes. Furthermore, it was shown that MIP-3 inhibits colony formation of bone marrow myeloid immature progenitors. MIP-3 is mainly expressed in lung and liver tissue, but can be also found in bone marrow and placenta, as well as in some cell lines of myeloid origin.
Alternative splicing of the CCL23 gene produces 2 mRNAs which encode a short (CK?8) and a long (CK?81) isoform of the MIP-3. CK?8 cDNA encodes a 120 amino acid residue precursor protein with a putative 21 a.a. residue signal peptide which is cleaved to generate a 99 a.a. residue mature CK?8 (a.a. 22-120). Further N-terminal processing of the 99 a.a. residue variant can produce a 75 a.a. residue CK?8 (a.a. 46-120) which is considerably more active than the 99 a.a. residue variant.
MIP-3 may be involved in the malignant progression of certain human cancer cells which overexpress ErbB2 through the transactivation of ErbB2 tyrosine kinase. MIP-3 may also be involved in angiogenesis via upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-2 expression.

PPA1 is a member of the PPase family. PPA1 catalyzes the conversion of one molecule of pyrophosphate to two phosphate ions. Many biochemical pathways use the hydrolysis of PPi to two phosphate ions to make the reactions permanently irreversible. A prominent illustration of this phenomenon is the inorganic pyrophosphatase catalyzation in the hydrolysis reaction at the beginning of lipid degradation. Inorganic pyrophosphatase provides the motivation for the activation of fatty acids destined for oxidation by stimulating the rapid hydrolysis of pyrophosphate.

Melanotan and Melanotan-II are both analogs of the peptide hormone alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) that tend to induce skin tanning. Unlike Melanotan, Melanotan-II has the additional effect of increasing libido. Melanotan II has aphrodisiac properties.

PPP1CC is vital for cell division and takes part in the regulation of protein synthesis, muscle contractility and glycogen metabolism. Additionally, PPP1CC has a role in long-term synaptic plasticity and regulation of ionic conductance, and has a significant role in dephosphorylating substrates such as the postsynaptic density-associated Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non Receptor Type-11 or PTPN11 has 2 Src homology 2 domains and part of the tyrosine phosphatase group of proteins. PTPN11 is responsible for the catalyzation of tyrosine residues dephosphorylation in proteins and takes part in the stimulation and activation of Erk/MAP kinase transduction via signals from tyrosine kinase. Noonan syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia can be caused from mutations in PTPN11.

IMP3 is the human homolog of the yeast Imp3 protein and Essential for the early cleavages during pre-18S ribosomal RNA processing. IMP3 is a Part of the 60-80S U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein (U3 snoRNP). IMP3 is a member of to the ribosomal protein S4P family and localizes to the nucleoli and interacts with the U3 snoRNP complex. IMP3 contains an S4 domain. U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein protein IMP3 is a protein which in humans is encoded by the IMP3 gene.

Prolactin-inducible protein (PIP) is a main protein component of benign breast gross cysts. PIP is a famous indicator of breast cancer, since it is found in around 50% of all breast cancer specimens. PIP is expressed in exocrine glands, in pathologic conditions, in breast cysts and breast cancers exhibiting apocrine features. PIP and prostate specific antigen are co-expressed in androgen receptor-positive breast tumours.

MANF is a 20kDa protein which belongs to the ARMET family. MANF was originally known as an arginine-rich region protein which was extremely mutated in a large number of tumors. MANF Expression is induced during ER stress, signifying that MANF takes part in protein quality control during ER stress.

Methionine aminopeptidases and designated peptidase M proteins belong to the M24 family of proteins. MAP protein removes the amino-terminal methionine residue from nascent polypeptides. The active site of MAP contains 2 adjacent divalent metal ions connected by a water molecule or hydroxide ion.

Mediator Complex Subunit 20 (MED20) is a subunit of the Mediator complex, which is a multiprotein coactivator of RNA transcription that interacts with DNA-bound transcriptional activators, RNA polymerase II, and general initiation factors. The Mediator functions as a link to transmit information from gene-specific regulatory proteins to the basal RNA polymerase II transcription apparatus. Mediator is recruited to promoters by direct interactions with regulatory proteins and functions as a scaffold for the compilation of a functional preinitiation complex with RNA polymerase II and the general transcription factors.

PNP is a member of the PNP/MTAP phosphorylase family of proteins. PNP catalyzes the reversible phosphorolysis of ribonucleosides and 2’-deoxyribonucleosides with specificity for guanine, hypoxanthine and their analogs. PNP deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease linked to a severe defect in T-lymphocyte function and neurologic disorder in children, comprising four percent of combined immunodeficiency cases.

Myosin Binding Protein C, Cardiac (MYBPC3) is the cardiac isoform of myosin-binding protein C expressed exclusively in heart muscle. Myosin-binding protein C is a myosin-associated protein found in the cross-bridge-bearing zone (C region) of A bands in striated muscle. Regulatory phosphorylation of the cardiac isoform in vivo by cAMP-dependent protein kinase upon adrenergic stimulation may be associated with modulation of cardiac contraction. MYBPC3 gene mutations are one of the causes of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In vitro MYBPC3 binds MHC, F-actin and native thin filaments, and modifies the activity of actin-activated myosin ATPase. MYBPC3 may modulate muscle contraction or it may have a more structural role.

GDF8 is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. This gene is thought to encode a secreted protein which negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth.

Dual specificity phosphatase 18 (DUSP18) belongs to the dual-specificity phosphatase (DSP) family, which catalyzes dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine and phosphothreonine residues. DUSP18 has a preferential enzymatic activity for phosphorylated tyrosine residues over threonine residues, in addition DUSP18 dephosphorylates p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) in vitro. Furthermore, DUSP18 is inhibited by iodoarectic acid and is activated by manganese ions. DUSP18 is extensively expressed with the highest levels in the liver, brain, ovary and testis.