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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.

PSMF1 is a protein which hinders the activation of the proteasome by the 11S and 19S regulators. The 26S proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with an extremely ordered structure composed of 2 complexes, a 20S core and a 19S regulator. The 20S core is comprised of 4 rings of 28 non-identical subunits; 2 rings are composed of 7 alpha subunits and 2 rings are composed of 7 beta subunits.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a dominant inherited syndrome characterized by the predisposition to develop various kinds of benign and malignant tumors, including clear cell renal carcinomas, pheochromocytomas and hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system and retina. VHL syndrome is caused by germline mutation in the VHL tumor suppressor, and VHL tumors are associated with loss or mutation of the remaining wild-type allele. VHL has two domains: a roughly 100-residue NH2-terminal domain rich in b sheet (b-domain) and a smaller a-helical domain (a-domain), held together by two linkers and a polar interface. VHL protein is also involved in the degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF).

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

GMCSF is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes and macrophages. The active form of the protein is found extracellularly as a homodimer. This gene has been localized to a cluster of related genes at chromosome region 5q31, which is known to be associated with interstitial deletions in the 5q- syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia. Other genes in the cluster include those encoding interleukins 4, 5, and 13.
GM-CSF stimulates the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells from various lineages, including granulocytes, macrophages, eosinophils and erythrocytes.

Chromogranin-A Isoform 1 Preproprotein or CHGA is part of the neuroendocrine secretory proteins of the chromogranin/secretogranin family. CHGA is a precursor of numerus enzymes such as pancreastatin, catestatin, vasostatin-1,vasostatin-2, and parastatin. The protein acts as a negative regulator the neuroendocrine activity of autocrine or nearby cells (paracrine). CHGA causes further production of secretory granules that contains insulin in pancreatic islet beta cells.

IGF-1 (Insulin-like growth factor-1) is a major hormonal mediator of statural growth. Under regular circumstances, GH (growth hormone) binds to its receptor in the liver, and other tissues, and stimulates the synthesis/secretion of IGF-1. In target tissues, the Type 1 IGF receptor, that is homologous to the insulin receptor, is activated by IGF-1, leading to intracellular signaling which stimulates multiple processes leading to statural growth. IGF-1 metabolic actions are partly directed at stimulating the uptake of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids so that metabolism supports growing tissues.

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.

S100A8 is a part of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 proteins are localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a broad range of cells, and participate in the regulation of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100A8 plays a role in the inhibition of casein kinase and as a cytokine. S100A8 altered expression is related with cystic fibrosis disease. S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein that has antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi.S100A8 is crucial for resistance towards invasion by pathogenic bacteria. S100A8 up-regulates transcription of genes that are under the control of NF-kappa-B. S100A8 plays a role in the development of endotoxic shock in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. S100A8 endorses tubulin polymerization and promotes phagocyte migration and infiltration of granulocytes at sites of wounding. S100A8 takes part as a pro-inflammatory mediator in acute and chronic inflammation and up-regulates the release of IL8 and cell-surface expression of ICAM1.

Sclerostin (SOST) is a secreted glycoprotein with a C-terminal cysteine knot-like (CTCK) domain and sequence similarity to the DAN (differential screening-selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma) family of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists. Sclerostin functions as a negative regulator of bone growth, by inhibiting bone formation. SOST is widely expressed at low levels, with highest levels in the bone, cartilage, kidney, liver, bone marrow and primary osteoblasts differentiated for 21 days. SOST gene defects cause sclerosteosis and bone dysplasia.

Proteins of the TFF family are characterized by obtaining a minimum of 1 copy of the trefoil motif, a 40-amino acid domain that contains 3 conserved disulfides. Trefoil Factors are stable secretory proteins expressed in gastrointestinal mucosa which protect the mucosa from insults, stabilize the mucus layer and affect healing of the epithelium.TFF2 inhibits gastric acid motility & secretion. TFF2 stabilizes glycoproteins in the mucus gel through interactions with carbohydrate side chains. TFF3 induces ciliogenesis and promotes airway epithelial ciliated cell differentiation, relatively through an epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent pathway. TFF3 overexpression is crucial for progression in mouse and human hepatocellular carcinogenesis. TFF-3 is normally expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and its expression associates with tumor grade.

CNTF is a polypeptide hormone whose actions appear to be restricted to the nervous system where it promotes neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth in certain neuronal populations. The protein is a potent survival factor for neurons and oligodendrocytes and may be relevant in reducing tissue destruction during inflammatory attacks. A mutation in this gene, which results in aberrant splicing, leads to ciliary neurotrophic factor deficiency, but this phenotype is not causally related to neurologic disease. In addition to the predominant monocistronic transcript originating from this locus, the gene is also co-transcribed with the upstream ZFP91 gene. Co-transcription from the two loci results in a transcript that contains a complete coding region for the zinc finger protein but lacks a complete coding region for ciliary neurotrophic factor.
CNTF is a survival factor for various neuronal cell types. Seems to prevent the degeneration of motor axons after axotomy.

Agrin or AGRN is a large protein (proteoglycan) that has a crucial part in the development of neuromuscular junction amid embryogenesis. The protein has an involvement in the collection and aggregation of acetylcholine receptors through synaptogenesis. The agrin gene can be found and expressed in rat embryonic nervous system andmuscle tissue. This Agrin protein is aggregated in the synapses, there it can take part in regeneration & development. The protein binds to receptors on the surface of skeletal muscle.

Fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) is a member of the large FGF family which has at least 23 members. FGF18 is a growth factor with a core 120 amino acid FGF domain which allows for a common tertiary structure. FGFs are expressed in the course of the embryonic development and in restricted adult tissues. FGF-18 is an indispensable regulator of long bone and calvarial development. FGF-18 signals via FGFR 1c, 2c, 3c, and 4.

The 23kDa two-domain periplasmic chaperone FIMC from E.coli is vital for the assembly of type-1 pili, which are filamentous, very oligomeric protein complexes anchored to the outer bacterial membrane that mediate adhesion of pathogenic E. coli strains to host cell surfaces and persist in macrophages.

Recombinant Human Lipocalin-2 also called Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) belongs to a family of lipocans which include 25 proteins (including a1-microglobulin and b-lactoglobulin), which are characterized by their ability to bind small lipophilic substances in their hydrophobic core.
They thereby serve as transporters of substances like retinal, biliverdins & prostaglandins. There are indications that NGAL is involved in modulation of the inflammatory response and is found in the plasma of patients after stroke.

CDNF is a member of the ARMET family and acts as a trophic factor for dopamine neurons. CDNF inhibits the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. When CDNF controlled after 6-OHDA-lesioning, it reestablishes the dopaminergic function and inhibits the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. CDNF is universally expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. The highest levels in the brain are found in the optic nerve and corpus callosum.

PTX3 is part of the pentraxin family sharing the C-terminal domain with short pentraxins and containing a unique N-terminal domain. PTX3 is produced and released at inflammatory sites by various cell types including monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and adipocytes. PTX3 is involved in the regulation of innate resistance to pathogens, inflammatory reactions, possibly clearance of self-components and female fertility. PTX3 is used as a marker for disease activity of psoriasis. High serum PTX3 levels are associated with the disease severity of systemic sclerosis. Elevated serum PTX3 is associated with pulmonary fungal infections.

General Transcription Factor IIF Polypeptide 2 (GTF2F2) is a general transcription initiation factor which binds to RNA polymerase II and helps engage it in the initiation complex in collaboration with TFIIB. GTF2F2 promotes transcription elongation. GTF2F2 shows ATP-dependent DNA-helicase activity.

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.

Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Receptor, also known as CNTFR is a member of the type I cytokine receptor family. CNTFR binds to CNTF. The alpha subunit provides the receptor specificity. Sole nucleotide polymorphisms in CNTFR has been associated with variations in muscle strength, in addition to early onset of eating disorders.

Meteorin (METRN) is involved in both glial cell differentiation and axonal network formation during neurogenesis. METRN promotes astrocyte differentiation and transforms cerebellar astrocytes into radial glia. Moreover, the METRN protein stimulates axonal extension in small and intermediate neurons of sensory ganglia by activating nearby satellite glia.

Acidic 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 hep-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.