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L-threonine to glycine degradation consists of a two-step biochemical pathway which involvs the enzymes L-threonine dehydrogenase and 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate coenzyme A ligase. L-Threonine is initially converted into 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate by L-threonine dehydrogenase. Glycine C-Acetyltransferase (GCAT) is the 2nd enzyme in this pathway, which subsequently catalyzes the reaction between 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate and coenzyme A to form glycine and acetyl-CoA. The GCAT enzyme is regard as a class II pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase. GCAT is strongly expressed in the heart, brain, liver and pancreas. GCAT is also found in lung.

Glucuronidase Beta (GUSB) is a lysosomal hydrolase which is taking part in the stepwise degradation of glucuronic acid-containing glycosaminoglycans and plays a significant role in the degradation of dermatan and keratin sulfates. GUSB is comprised of heparin sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronan.

Heparanase is an endo β-D-glucuronidase, which degrades heparan sulfate side chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in the extracellular matrix. Heparanase plays an important role in ECM degradation, facilitating the migration and extravasation of tumor cells and inflammatory leukocytes (1,2,3). Upon degradation, heparanase releases growth factors and cytokines that stimulate cell proliferation and chemotaxis (4,5). Heparanase is a heterodimer comprised of a 50 kDa subunit harboring the active site and a 8 kDa subunit. It is produced as a latent 65 kDa precursor and proteolytically processed to its active form (1,6). Heparanase is highly expressed in myeloid leukocytes (i.e. neutrophils) in platelets and in human placenta. Human heparanase was found to be upregulated in various types of primary tumors, correlating in some cases with increased tumor invasiveness and vascularity and with poor prospective survival (7,8).

ME2 catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of malate to pyruvate, malat + NAD(P)+? pyruvate + CO2 + NAD(P)H+, and is found both in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Three different isoforms of ME are known to be in mammalian tissues: a strictly cytosolic NADP+-dependent enzyme, an NADP+-dependent mitochondriail isoform, and a mitochondrial isoenzyme that is able to use both NAD+ and NADP+ but is more effective with NAD+. The mammalian isoforms size is about 62-64 kDa. A native size of 240,000 Da proposes a tetrameric structure for the active enzyme.
Mitochondrial NAD+-dependent ME 2 activity is seen in tissues that experience many cell divisions, like spleen, thymus, and the basal cells of the small intestinal mucosa. ME2 is also expressed all through the rapid cleavage stages of early Xenopus development. Activity for this isoform is low or nonexistent in brain, muscle, and normal and regenerating liver tissue from rat but was observed in rat adrenal cortex, pigeon and human skeletal muscle, and in heart muscle of some species. In addition, it is expressed in mitochondria of all tumor cells inspected to detain ascites tumors, hepatoma cells, and a variety of other tumors and transformed cell lines.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is involved in endometrial menstrual breakdown, regulation of vascularization and the inflammatory response. MMP-2 contains a number of distinct domains: a prodomain that is cleaved upon activation; a catalytic domain containing the zinc binding site; a fibronectin like domain believed to have a role in substrate targeting; and a carboxyl terminal (hemopexin like) domain containing 2 N-linked glycosylation. The MMP-2 can degrade an extensive array of substrates including type IV, V, VII and X collagens as well as gelatin type I. In addition, MMP-2 interacts with THBS2, TIMP2, Thrombospondin 1, CCL7 and TIMP4. MMP-2 autocatalytic cleavage in the C-terminal generates the anti-angiogenic peptide, PEX. This process seems to be made possible by binding integrinv/beta3. Defects in the MMP-2 are the cause of Torg-Winchester syndrome (TWS), aka multicentric osteolysis nodulosis and arthropathy (MONA).

PGK1 is an X-linked enzyme that has a major role in the glycolytic pathway. PGK1 is a glycolytic enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of 1,3-diphosphoglycerate to 3-phosphoglycerate, generating an ATP molecule. PGK1 may also act as a cofactor for polymerase alpha. Defects in the PGK1 gene are usually associated with chronic hemolytic anemia, though it can be accompanied by either mental retardation or muscular disease (rhabdomyolysis). Overexpression of PGK1 and its signalling targets are possibly an expression-pathway in diffuse primary gastric carcinomas promoting peritoneal dissemination. It was shown that PGK1 is differentially expressed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex from patients with schizophrenia.

OTC is a member of the ATCase/OTCase family. OTC has a key part in the urea cycle, catalyzing the second step in this pathway: the transformation of L-orthinine and carbamoyl phosphate to L-citrulline. In humans, the urea cycle is a vital pathway to detoxification of ammonia. Alterations in the gene encoding OTC are linked to the X-linked disorder OTCD (ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency). OTCD disorder of the urea cycle is characterized by hyperammonemia.

Candida albicans is a diploid fungus, which grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a contributory agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans, and candidal onychomycosis (an infection of the nail plate). Systemic fungal infections (fungemias) including those by C. albicans are regarded as key causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients (e.g., AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplantation). C. albicans biofilms may develop on the surface of implantable medical devices. C. albicans is commensal and a constituent of the normal gut flora containing microorganisms which live in the human mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Overgrowth of the fungus leads to in candidiasis (candidosis). Candidiasis is frequently detected in immunocompromised persons, including HIV-infected patients. To infect host tissue, the habitual unicellular yeast-like form of C. albicans reacts to environmental signals and changes into an invasive, multicellular filamentous form, a phenomenon which is known as dimorphism.

AURKA (Aurora Kinase A) belongs to the mitotic serine/threonine kinases family. AURKA is a cell cycle-regulated kinase which may be involved in microtubule formation and/or stabilization at the spindle pole during chromosome segregation. AURKA is found at the centrosome in interphase cells and at the spindle poles in mitosis. Since the AURKA expression is cell-cycle regulated, it is low in G1/S, it accumulates during G2/M, and it decreases rapidly after. AURKA is involved in important processes during mitosis and meiosis whose proper function is essential for healthy cell proliferation. In addition, AURKA plays an essential role in tumourigenesis and is overexpressed in various types of cancers. AURKA is strongly expressed in the testis, colon, ovarian, prostate, neuroblastoma, breast and cervical cancer cell lines and weakly in skeletal muscle, thymus and spleen. AURKA interacts with its substrates BORA and ARHGEF2, as well as with TACC1 and CPEB1.
Defects in the AURKA gene cause numerical centrosome aberrations including aneuploidy. AURKA overexpression has been linked to chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer. AURKA expression may have a prognostic significance in ovarian carcinoma.

CNDP Dipeptidase 2 (CNDP2), is a cytosolic, non-specific dipeptidase which is a part of the peptidase M20A protein family. CNDP2 is a secreted peptidase homologous to M20 peptidases. CNDP2 expresses through all adult and fetal tissue, though, an isoform missing exons 3 and 4 expresses in all fetal tissue in adult liver. Over expression of CPGL-B in hepatocellular carcinoma cells results in significant inhibition of HC cell viability, colony formation, cell invasiveness and tumor configuration.

MAP2K1 is a member of the dual specificity protein kinase family, which plays a role as a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase. MAP kinases, are recognized as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), that act as an integration position for multiple biochemical signals. MEK1 is located upstream of MAP kinases and stimulates the enzymatic activity of MAP kinases upon wide variety of extra- and intracellular signals. As a key player of MAP kinase signal transduction pathway, MEK1 is involved in many cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. MAP2K1 catalyzes the concomitant phosphorylation of a threonine and a tyrosine residue in a thr-glu-tyr sequence located in map kinases. MEK1 activates erk1 and erk2 map kinases.

PGK2 is a testis-specific form of phosphoglycerate kinase. Originally presumed to be a pseudogene, the PGK2 protein is actually a functional phosphoglycerate kinase which catalyzes the reversible conversion of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to 3-phosphoglycerate, during the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway of glycolysis, in the later stages of spermatogenesis. The PGK2 gene is intronless, results from retrotransposition of the phosphoglycerate kinase 1 gene, and is expressed specifically in the testis.

CNDP Dipeptidase 1, also known as CNDP1 is a member of the peptidase M20A family. CNDP1 Mannheim which is the shortest allelic form has been more common in the absence of nephropathy in addition to being associated with lower serum carnosinase levels. Furthermore, Carnosine inhibited the increased production of fibronectin as well as collagen type VI in podocytes and the increased production of TGF-beta in mesangial cells. Diabetic patients with the CNDP1 Mannheim variant are less at risk for nephropathy. In addition, on renal cells carnosine protects against the adverse effects of high glucose levels.

RNASE2, also known as EDN, is best-known as one of the 4 major proteins found in the large specific granules of human eosinophilic leukocytes. This protein is also expressed constitutively in human liver tissue and its expression can be induced in macrophages by proinflammatory stimuli. RNASE2 is a non-secretory ribonuclease which belongs to the pancreatic ribonuclease family, a subset of the ribonuclease A superfamily. Diseases associated with EDN include Dermatitis, Atopic, 8 and Pulmonary Eosinophilia.

MAPK3 is a part of the MAP kinase family which is recognized as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), that function in a signaling cascade that controls various cellular procedures such as proliferation, differentiation, and cell cycle progression in reaction to a variety of extracellular signals. MAPK3 is activated by upstream kinases, resulting in its translocation to the nucleus where it phosphorylates nuclear targets.

Deoxyribonuclease I Human Recombinant (rhDNase), an enzyme which selectively cleaves DNA. Recombinant Human Dnase is an endonuclease enzyme which splits phosphodiester linkages within polynucleotides, acting primarely on single stranded DNA (ssDNA), double stranded DNA (ddDNA) and chromatin. Dnase is activated by bivalent metals such as Mg+2 and Ca+2 .
Dnase enzymes are common reagents used in biochemical methods requiring diestion of DNA and recovery of RNA, or where DNA is to be removed without affecting structural proteins or enzymes. Dnase enzymes are also used in tissue culture to digest DNA from damaged cells, resulting in reduced viscosity, and for removal of membrane-bound DNA fragments.

Creatine Kinase BB is a cytoplasmic enzyme involved in energy homeostasis. The encoded protein reversibly catalyzes the transfer of phosphate between ATP and various phosphogens such as creatine phosphate. It acts as a homodimer in brain as well as in other tissues, and as a heterodimer with a similar muscle isozyme in heart. The encoded protein is a member of the ATP:guanido phosphotransferase protein family. A pseudogene of this gene has been characterized.

METTL21A, which is a part of the methyltransferase superfamily, is a Protein-lysine methyltransferase that in vitro methylates HSPA1, HSPA5 and HSPA8.

Glutamic-Pyruvate Transaminase 2 (GPT2) catalyzes the reversible transamination among alanine and 2-oxoglutarate to create pyruvate and glutamate. GPT2 expressed mainly in muscle, fat and kidney and participates in the intermediary metabolism of glucose and amino acids.

Kallikrein-3 (KLK3) is a part of the kallikrein-related peptidase family. Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases having various physiological functions. Numerous kallikreins take part in carcinogenesis and some may be prospective cancer and other disease biomarkers. Kallikrein-3 is 1 of the 15 kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19 and is a protease present in seminal plasma. KLK3 hydrolyzes semenogelin-1 consequently leading to the liquefaction of the seminal coagulum. KLK3 acts normally in the liquefaction of seminal coagulum, probably by hydrolysis of the high molecular mass seminal vesicle protein. Serum level of the KLK3 protein, called PSA in the clinical setting, is beneficial in the diagnosis and monitoring of prostatic carcinoma.

KLK7 catalyzes the degradation of intercellular cohesive structures in the cornified layer of the skin in the continuous shedding of cells from the skin surface. Specific for amino acid residues with aromatic side chains in the P1 position. KLK7 is involved in the activation of precursors to inflammatory cytokines.

Sepiapterin Reductase is an aldo-keto reductase that catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of pteridine derivatives and is essential in the biosynthesis of BH4. Mutations in Sepiapterin Reductase gene result in DOPA-responsive dystonia due to sepiaterin reductase deficiency defined by the presence of sustained involuntary muscle contractions, often leading to abnormal postures. Sepiapterin reductase is part of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family which reduces exogenous carbonyl compounds as well as phenylpropanedione. Sepiapterin reductase is an important enzyme for the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, an necessary cofactor for aromatic amino acid hydrolases together with tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis.

Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole Carboxylase (PAICS) is an enzyme involved in nucleotide biosynthesis and particularly in purine biosynthesis. PAICS is a bifunctional enzyme containing phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase activity at its N-terminal region and phosphoribosylaminoimidazole succinocarboxamide synthetase at its C-terminal region. PAICS catalyzes the conversion of 5'-phosphoribosyl-5-aminoimidazole(AIR) into 5'-phosphoribosyl-4-carboxy-5-aminoimidazole (CAIR) as described in the reaction. PAICS catalyzes steps six and seven of purine biosynthesis.

3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductase (KDSR) is a 332 amino acid multi-pass membrane protein which localizes to the ER and is a member of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family. KDSR is a secreted protein that is weakly expressed in hematopoietic tissue. Furthermore, KDSR catalyzes the reduction of 3-ketodihydrosphingosine (KDS) to dihydrosphingosine (DHS). The putative active site residues of KDSR are found on the cytosolic side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Chromosomal rearrangement in the KDSR gene is a cause of follicular lymphoma, aka type II chronic lymphatic leukemia.