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GH is a member of the somatotropin/prolactin family of hormones which play an important role in growth control. The gene, along with four other related genes, is located at the growth hormone locus on chromosome 17 where they are interspersed in the same transcriptional orientation; an arrangement which is thought to have evolved by a series of gene duplications. The five genes share a remarkably high degree of sequence identity. Alternative splicing generates additional isoforms of each of the five growth hormones, leading to further diversity and potential for specialization. This particular family member is expressed in the pituitary but not in placental tissue as is the case for the other four genes in the growth hormone locus. Mutations in or deletions of the gene lead to growth hormone deficiency and short stature.

BDNF promotes the survival of neuronal populations that are all located either in the central nervous system or directly connected to it. BDNF is a major regulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity at adult synapses in many regions of the cns. The versatility of BDNF is emphasized by its contribution to a range of adaptive neuronal responses including long-term potentiation (ltp), long-term depression (ltd), certain forms of short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as homeostatic regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability.

HES7 belongs to the Hairy and enhancer of split family of bHLH transcription factors. The mouse ortholog of the HES7 is set by Notch signaling. The protein serves as a transcriptional repressor, and is involved in correct patterning of the axial skeleton. A mutation in HES7 has been shown to result in spondylocostal dysostosis. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been discovered for HES7.

MTHSFD, also known as Methenyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase Domain Containing protein, is linked to Pancreas, Annular and Gastrointestinal Defects. It has also been associated with Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Some of the Gene Ontology annotations that are related to the MTHSFD gene are nucleic acid binding and nucleotide binding.

BPHL is a Serine hydrolase that is a part of the AB hydrolase superfamily which catalyzes the hydrolytic activation of amino acid ester prodrugs of nucleoside analogs. BPHL is expressed large quantities in liver and kidney and in minor quantities in heart, intestine and skeletal muscle. BPHL takes part in detoxification processes and is a specific alpha-amino acid ester hydrolase which favors small, hydrophobic, and aromatic side chains and does not have a strict necessity for the leaving group except for favoring a primary alcohol.

Basic fibroblast growth factor is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The heparin-binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

Collagen triple helix repeat-containing protein 1 or CTHRC1 acts as a negative regulator of collagen matrix deposition. The protein is secreted from a 28kDa protein which is glycosylated and very conserved from lower chordates to mammals. CTHRC1 is found qualitatively in plasma of healthy human subjects. CTHRC1 plasma levels are also significantly elevated during pregnancy, in diabetes, in inflammatory and infectious conditions, in subjects with acute myeloid leukemia but not in subjects with solid cancers.CTHRC1 is highly connected with calcified tissues and cartilaginous matrix, but not with endothelial cells.

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.

Sonic Hedgehog is part of a small group of secreted proteins which are vital for development in both vertebrates and invertebrates. 3 mammalian hedgehog genes (sonic, desert, Indian) share about 60% homology. The Human Sonic Hedgehog is 99% homologous to the mouse gene. Sonic HedgeHog is a protein that is vital in guding the early embryo. It has been associated as the major inductive signal in patterning of the ventral neural tube, the anterior-posterior limb axis, and the ventral somites. Sonic HedgeHog binds to the patched receptor, which functions in association with smoothened, to activate the transcription of target genes. In the absence of sonic HedgeHog, patched receptor represses the constitutive signaling activity of smoothened. Sonic HedgeHog also regulates another factor, the gli oncogene. Sonic HedgeHog intercellular signal is essential for a various patterning events during development: signal produced by the notochord that induces ventral cell fate in the neural tube and somites, and the polarizing signal for patterning of the anterior-posterior axis of the developing limb bud. Sonic HedgeHog exhibits both floor plate- and motor neuron-inducing activity. Mutations in a long-range Sonic HedgeHog enhancer located in an intron of the limb region 1 gene result in preaxial polydactyly.

Ectodysplasin A Receptor, also known as EDAR belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. EDAR is a receptor for the soluble ligand ectodysplasin A, and is capable of activating the nuclear factor-kappaB, JNK, as well as caspase-independent cell death pathways. EDAR is necessary for the development of hair, teeth, and other ectodermal derivatives. Furthermore, mutations in EDAR resulted in autosomal dominant and recessive forms of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.

Interfereon alpha 7 (IFNA7) is a member of the alpha/beta interferon family. IFNA7 is generated by macrophages. IFN-alpha has antiviral functions. Interferon promotes the production of 2 enzymes: a protein kinase and an oligoadenylate synthetase.

Low affinity immunoglobulin gamma Fc region receptor III-A (FCGR3A) is a receptor for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G, and is involved in the elimination of antigen-antibody complexes from the circulation, as well as other antibody-dependent responses. FCGR3A needs to associate with the gamma subunit of Fc epsilon. The FCGR3A receptor is expressed on natural killer (NK) cells as an integral membrane glycoprotein anchored through a transmembrane peptide, while FCGR3B is expressed on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) where the receptor is anchored through a phosphatidylinositol (PI) linkage. In addition, FCGR3A is expressed on macrophages, subpopulation of T-cells, immature thymocytes and placental trophoblasts. FCGR3A mediates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and other antibody-dependent responses, such as phagocytosis. FCGR3A gene mutations are linked with susceptibility to recurrent viral infections, susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus, and alloimmune neonatal neutropenia.

Fibronectin Type III Domain Containing 5 (Irisin) is a newly discovered hormone, secreted into circulation by muscle, which acts on white adipocytes and promotes WAT “browning”. r-Irisin can reduce body weight and cause induction of brown adipocyte in vivo, including a capacity for thermogenic energy expenditure mediated by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1). Irisin mature protein is comprised of 110 amino acid residues and two potential glycosylation sites. High levels of Irisin can be found in the heart whereas Very low expression is found in the colon, pancreas and spleen, if any.

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor is a growth factor and/or cytokine produced by the endothelium, macrophages and a number of other immune cells. GCSF stimulates the bone marrow to produce granulocytes and also to stimulate the survival, proliferation, differentiation and function of neutrophil granulocyte progenator cells and mature neutrophils.

Chromgranin-A is part of the neuroendocrine secretory protein family. CHGA is located in secretory vesicles of neurons and endocrine cells. Chromgranin-A is a precursor to three biologically active peptides; vasostatin, pancreastatin, and parastatin. These peptides act as autocrine or paracrine negative modulators of the neuroendocrine system. Other peptides, including chromostatin, beta-granin, WE-14 and GE-25, are also derived from the full-length protein. Chromgranin-A has numerous biological activities on some tissues and organs and exerts a large spectrum of homeostatic actions, including antifungal and antimicrobial effect, modulation of cell adhesion, and inhibition of parathyroid hormone secretion.

UFM1-Specific Peptidase 1 (UFSP1) is similar to other Ufm1-specific proteases. Studies in mice determined that Ufsp1 releases ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (Ufm1) from its bound conjugated complexes which also makes it into an active form. Sincethe human UFSP1 protein is shorter on the N-terminus and lacks a conserved Cys active site, it is expected to be non-functional.

HSP10 is part of the molecular chaperons, that are crucial for thir efficient folding of proteins in normal as well as stress conditions. GroES function is to bind to HSP60 in the presence of ATP, thus causing a change in the HSP60 conformation & enclosing the protein substrate within the complex. ATP hydrolysis by chaperonin-60 which destabilizes the HSP10-HSP60 complex, thereby allowing it to dissociate and secrete the substrate protein. GroES having the NCBI accession number of NP_002148 was purified by using conventional chromatography techniques.

Cystatins are a superfamily of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in both plants and animals. They comprise a group of proteinase inhibitors, widely distributed in tissues and body fluids, and form tight complexes with cysteine proteases such as cathepsin B, H, L and S. Cystatin C, a secreted molecule of this family, is of interest from biochemical, medicine and evolutionary points of view. Cystatin C, with molecular weight of 13260 Da, is composed of 120 amino acids, lacks carbohydrate and has two disulfide bridges located near the carboxyl terminus. Cystatin C is increased in patients with malignant diseases, and is related to the insufficiency of renal function and appears to be a better marker than creatinine. On the other hand, low levels of cystatin C involve cause the breakdown of the elastic laminae and, subsequently, the atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

S100P is a Ca2+ binding protein that is part of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 proteins are found in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a large range of cells, and participates in the regulation of a number of cellular function such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100P participates in numerous biological functions but the exact functions or mechanism of its action is still mostly unknown. Once S100P binds calcium ions it goes through a conformational change that results in an exposure of a hydrophobic surface which permits the interaction with specific target proteins.

E-selectin (SELE) is a part of a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. E-selectin 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.

SERPINH1 is part of the serpin superfamily of serine proteinase inhibitors. SEPINH1 expression is induced by heat shock. HSP47 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and binds collagen therefore it is a molecular chaperone which takes part in the maturation of collagen molecules, facilitating the folding and assembly of procollagen molecules, retaining unfolded molecules within the ER, and assisting the transport of correctly folded-molecules from the ER to Golgi apparatus. Autoantibodies to HSP47 protein have been found in rheumatoid arthritis. SERPINH1 binds specifically to collagen and acts as a chaperone in the biosynthetic pathway of collagen.

DHPS is vital for the first step of hypusine biosynthesis. DHPS catalyzes the NAD-dependent transfer of the butylamine moiety of spermidine to the epsilon-amino group of a specific lysine residue of the EIF5A precursor protein to form the intermediate deoxyhypusine residue.