Search results

Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide (GIP) which is a significant hormone of the enteroinsular axis has a functional profile of possible therapeutic value for type 2 diabetes. GIP is an important incretin hormone released into the circulation from endocrine K-cells of the duodenum and jejunum after ingestion of food1. GIP was evaluated for his ability to elevate cellular cAMP production. GIP promotes plasma triglyceride clearance in response to oral fat loading.

Galectin-2 or LGALS2 is a protein, part of the galectin proteins family. The galectin proteins family holds galectin proteins family lectins that mediates adhesion between cells or cells to ECM. This family also take part in pre-mRNA splicing, apoptosis & tumor progression. Galectin-2 induces apoptosis in T cells that are activated & binds to lymphotoxin-a, also can implicatate on myocardial infarction. LGALS2 from human and mouse share about 65% amino acid sequence resemblance.

L-Selectin belongs to a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. The L-Selectin molecule is composed of various domains: one homologous to lectins, one to epidermal growth factor, and two to the consensus repeat units found in C3/C4 binding proteins.
L-selectin is expressed constitutively on lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes and interacts specifically with carbohydrate groups on activated endothelial cells. L-Selectin may be shed by proteolytic cleavage and circulating levels in biological fluids may be used as an indicator of various pathological conditions. L-Selectin is cleaved by ADAM17.
L-selectin works as a "homing receptor" for leukocytes to enter secondary lymphoid tissues via the high endothelial venules. Ligands present on endothelial cells will attach to leukocytes expressing L-selectin, which causes the leukocytes to become localized at that juncture. The receptor is also located on the cell surfaces of "naive" T cells, which have not yet encountered their particular antigen. This surface expression is lost following the cells activation.

Lumican also known as LUM belongs to the small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) family which comprises decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin, keratocan, epiphycan, and osteoglycin. Furthermore we can see that in these bifunctional molecules, the protein moiety binds collagen fibrils and the highly charged hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans regulate interfibrillar spacings. Lumican is the main keratan sulfate proteoglycan of the cornea however LUM is also distributed in interstitial collagenous matrices throughout the body. Lumican regulates collagen fibril organization and circumferential growth, corneal transparency, epithelial cell migration and tissue repair. Among the diseases associated with LUM is posterior amorphous corneal dystrophy.

Glycophorins A & B (GYPA &GYPB) are the main sialoglycoproteins of the human erythrocyte membrane which carry the antigenic determinants for the MN and Ss blood groups. Along with the M or N and S or s antigens which normally occur in all populations, approximately 40 related variant phenotypes were identified. These variants comprise all the variants of the Miltenberger complex and some isoforms of Sta, as well as Dantu, Sat, He, Mg, and deletion variants Ena, S-s-U- and Mk. GYPA is significant for the function of SLC4A1 and is necessary for high activity of SLC4A1. GYPA is involved in translocation of SLC4A1 to the plasma membrane. GYPA is also a receptor for: the influenza virus, Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte-binding antigen 175 (EBA-175); binding of EBA-175 is dependent on sialic acid residues of the O-linked glycans and is also a receptor for Hepatitis A virus (HAV).

15 KDa Selenoprotein (SEP15) is a protein-coding gene which contains a selenocysteine (Sec) residue at its active site. Theselenocysteine is encoded by the UGA codon that usually signals translation termination. The 3' UTR ofselenoprotein genes have a conventional stem-loop structure, the sec insertion sequence (SECIS), which isnecessary for the recognition of UGA as a Sec codon rather than as a stop signal. Studies in mouse propose thatthis selenoprotein may have redox function and may be implicated in the quality control of protein folding. This geneis localized on chromosome 1p31, a genetic locus usually mutated or deleted in human cancers.Diseases associated with SEP15 include lung cancer susceptibility, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

HMGB3 is a member of the high mobility group (HMG) protein superfamily. HMGB3 holds DNA-binding HMG box domains, as do HMG1 and HMG2, and like the rest of the HMG protein superfamily members has a vital part in DNA replication, transcription and nucleosome assembly.

Serpin Peptidase Inhibitor, Clade C Member 1 (SERPINC1), which is a part of the serpin superfamily, is a plasma protease inhibitor. SERPINC1 inhibits thrombin and other activated serine proteases of the coagulation system, and regulates the blood coagulation cascade. SERPINC1 also inhibits Thrombin and Factors IXa, Xa and XIa. Deficiencies in SERPINC1 can cause ATIII deficiency, an autosomal dominant disease which might lead to a hereditary thrombophilia.

NANOG is a multidomain homeobox transcription factor which functions to maintain the undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells. NANOG expression counteracts the differentiation-promoting signals induced by the extrinsic factors LIF, Stat3 and BMP. Once NANOG expression is downregulated, cell differentiation can proceed. Proteins which regulate NANOG expression include transcription factors Oct4, SOX2, FoxD3, and Tcf3 and tumor suppressor p53.

Streptavidin is a tetrameric protein secreted by Streptomyces avidinii which binds firmly to biotin. Streptavidin is widely used in molecular biology through its unique high affinity for the vitamin biotin. The dissociation constant (Kd) of the biotin-streptavidin complex is about ~10-15 mol/L. The strong affinity recognition of biotin and biotinylated molecules has made streptavidin one of the most important components in diagnostics and laboratory kits. The streptavidin/biotin system has one of the biggest free energies of association of yet observed for noncovalent binding of a protein and small ligand in aqueous solution (K_assoc = 10**14). The complexes are also extremely stable over a wide range of temperature and pH.

Synaptotagmin-3 (SYT3) is a member of the synaptotagmin family. SYT3 is involved in Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis of secretory vesicles through Ca(2+) and phospholipid binding to the C2 domain or may function as Ca(2+) sensors in the process of vesicular trafficking and exocytosis.

Podoplanin is a small mucin-like type-1 transmembrane protein, typically expressed in various specialized cell types throughout the body. Podoplanin is a type-I integral membrane glycoprotein with diverse distribution in human tissues. PDPN physiological function is related to its mucin-type character. The homologous protein in other species has been described as a differentiation antigen and influenza-virus receptor.
PDPN is expressed in lymphatic progenitor cells and afterwards during mouse development in lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is a specific marker for lymph vessel endothelial cells. Over-expression of podoplanin significantly elevates endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and tube formation. Inhibition of Podoplanin expression decreases cell adhesion in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is used as a specific marker for lymphatic endothelium in histopathology.
Podoplanin expression is increased in nearly all human colon, rectum, and small intestine tumors. AGGRUS may serve as a diagnostic marker that distinguishes seminomas, the majority of which over express the protein, from embryonal carcinoma in testicular germ cell tumors.

PDRG1 is a 133 amino acid protein that localizes to the cytoplasm and belongs to the prefoldin subunit beta family. PDRG1 is expressed primarily in normal testicular tissue, it is functionally induced by ultraviolet light and is thought to have a role in chaperone-mediated protein folding, possibly having a role in cellular degradation. PDRG1 is linked to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, ring chromosome 20 epilepsy syndrome and Alagille syndrome.

Chondrosarcoma Associated Gene 1 (CSAG1) belongs to a family of tumor antigens. The CSAG1 protein is expressed in chondrosarcomas, but may also be expressed in normal tissues such as testis.

Sarcoglycan Delta (SGCD) is one of the four known components of the sarcoglycan complex, which is a subcomplex of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) and is expressed mainly in skeletal and cardiac muscle. DGC forms a link between the F-actin cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. SGCD protein’s mutations have been associated with autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy. SGCD gene expression is regulated by MITF In melanocytic cells.

Asialoglycoprotein Receptor 2 (ASGR2) is a hetero-oligomeric protein comprised of major and minor subunits, encoded by different genes. ASGR2 is a subunit of the asialoglycoprotein receptor; it is the less abundant minor subunit. The ASGR2 receptor is a transmembrane protein, which has a crucial role in serum glycoprotein homeostasis by mediating the endocytosis and lysosomal degradation of glycoproteins with exposed terminal galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine residues.

SNUPN is a nuclear import adaptor protein which is part of the Snurportin family.
SNUPN is Localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus and contains an N-terminal IBB domain and a trimethylguanosine (m3G)-cap binding domain. SNUPN binds specifically the terminal 2,2,7-m3G-cap at the 5'' end of U snRNPs and is involved in transport of U snRNPs into the nucleus through an association with Importin β.

SPG21 binds to the hydrophobic C-terminal amino acids of CD4 which take part in suppression of CD-4 dependant T cell activation. The interaction with CD4 is mediated by the noncatalytic alpha/beta hydrolase fold domain. SPG21 adapts the stimulatory activity of CD4. SPG21 is broadly expressed in diverse tissues including heart, brain, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas. Mutations in SPG21 cause Mast syndrome, an autosomal-recessive complicated form of hereditary spastic paraplegia characterized by dementia, thin corpus callosum and white matter abnormalities.

Tachykinin-3 belongs to the substance P-related tachykinin family. Tachykinins are active peptides that stimulate neurons, induce behavioral responses, are effective vasodilators and secretagogues, and contract (directly or indirectly) many smooth muscles. TAC3 and its receptor are essential switches of regulator of human puberty, regulated by the brain through the release of the GnRH which starts a chain of processes which eventually lead to the production of sex hormones.
During pregnancy, the expression of TAC3 is restricted to the outer syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta, significant concentrations of TAC3 can be identified in plasma as early as week 9, and plasma concentrations of TAC3 are grossly elevated in pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Higher Tachykinin-3 concentrations in normotensive pregnant women may be caused by the advanced gestational age and/or the result of a negative interaction of other vasoactive substances. TAC3 has a role in the continuance of high placental blood flow in normal pregnancy.

Intein is a section of a protein which can remove itself and return the remaining segment with a peptide bond. In addition, Inteins hold an endonuclease domain which takes part in Intein proliferation. Actually, various genes have unrelated intein-coding segments inserted at altered positions and they were found in all three domains of life (eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea) and in viruses.

MAP1LC3B is a member of the MAP1 LC3 family. MAP1LC3B is a subunit of neuronal microtubule-associated MAP1A and MAP1B proteins, that are involved in microtubule assembly and important for neurogenesis. In addition, MAP1LC3B takes part in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles and is expressed mainly in heart, testis, brain and skeletal muscle.

Sialic Acid Binding Ig Like Lectin 5, also known as SIGLEC5 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and SIGLEC family. SIGLEC5 contains of 2 Ig-like C2-type domains and 1 Ig-like V-type domain. In addition, SIGLEC5 is expressed by monocytic/myeloid lineage cells. SIGLEC5 is expressed at high levels in peripheral blood leukocytes, spleen, and at lower levels in lymph node, appendix, pancreas, lung, and thymus.

A 88-kDa progranulin, also called proepithelin and PC cell-derived growth factor, is a single precursor protein of granulins which are a family of secreted, glycosylated peptides that are cleaved from a single precursor protein with 7.5 repeats of a highly conserved 12-cysteine granulin/epithelin motif. Granulins are a variety of active, 6 kDa peptides and named granulin A (epithelin 1), granulin B (epithelin 2), granulin C, etc. Both the peptides and intact progranulin protein regulate cell growth. However, different members of the granulin protein family may act as inhibitors, stimulators, or have dual actions on cell growth. Granulin family members are important in normal development, wound healing, and tumorigenesis.

IFN-gamma produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens or mitogens.
IFN-gamma, in addition to having antiviral activity, has important immunoregulatory functions, it is a potent activator of macrophages, and has antiproliferative effects on transformed cells and it can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I interferons.