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Prolactin is a pituitary hormone involved in the stimulation of milk production, salt and water regulation, growth, development and reproduction. The initial step in its action is the binding to a specific membrane receptor (prolactin receptor) which belongs to the superfamily of class 1 cytokine receptors. The function of the prolactin receptor is mediated, at least in part, by two families of signaling molecules: Janus kinases and signal transducers and activators of transcription. Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone involved in a variety of important functions including ion transport and osmoregulation, stimulation of milk, protein synthesis as well as the regulation of numerous reproductive functions. PRL exerts its influence on different cell types through a signal transduction pathway which begins with the binding of the hormone to a transmembrane PRL receptor. Immunoreactive PRL receptor, a member of the cytokine receptor family, varies in size (short and long forms) with tissue source and species, from ~40 kDa to 100 kDa. The PRL receptor consists of at least three separate domains: an extracellular region with 5 cysteines which contains the prolactin binding site, a single transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic region, the length of which appears to influence ligand binding and regulate cellular function.

CETN3 comprises of 4 EF-hand calcium binding domains, and is a part of the centrin protein family. CETN3 protein is widely expressed cytoskeletal components that demonstrate increased expression during cell differentiation. CETN3 takes part in centrosome reproduction.

Thioredoxins are small disulphide-containing redox proteins (within the conserved Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys active site) that have been found in all the kingdoms of living organisms. Thioredoxin contains a single disulfide active site and serves as a general protein disulphide oxidoreductase. Thioredoxins are involved in the first unique step in DNA synthesis. It interacts with a broad range of proteins by a redox mechanism based on reversible oxidation of two cysteine thiol groups to a disulphide, accompanied by the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The net result is the covalent interconversion of a disulphide and a dithiol. It has been suggested that thioredoxin may catalyze the formation of correct disulfides during protein folding because of its ability to act as an efficient oxidoreductant. Trx also provides control over a number of transcription factors affecting cell proliferation and death through a mechanism referred to as redox regulation.

Monoamine Oxidase A, also known as MAOA catalyzes the oxidative deamination of biogenic as well as xenobiotic amines and has significant functions in the metabolism of neuroactive and vasoactive amines in the central nervous system as well as peripheral tissues. Mutation in MAOA results in Brunner syndrome; in addition MAOA has also been linked with a diversity of other psychiatric disorders, which includes antisocial behavior. MAOA preferentially oxidizes biogenic amines such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).

TNFSF15 is a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This protein is abundantly expressed in endothelial cells, but is not expressed in either B or T cells. The expression of TNFSF15 is inducible by TNF and IL-1 alpha. This cytokine is a ligand for receptor TNFRSF25 and decoy receptor TNFRSF21/DR6. It can activate NF-kappaB and MAP kinases, and acts as an autocrine factor to induce apoptosis in endothelial cells. TNFSF15 is also found to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation, and thus may function as an angiogenesis inhibitor. An additional isoform encoded by an alternatively spliced transcript variant has been reported but the sequence of this transcript has not been determined.

Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that belongs to the transferrin family of iron binding proteins. It is found in human breast milk as well as most epithelial surface secretions including tears, nasogastric, saliva, and bronchial. Lactoferrin binds 2 molecules of iron with very high affinity. Lactoferrin inhibits bacterial growth by withholding iron, its N-terminal region is an antimicrobial peptide. Lactotransferrin acts synergistically with lysozyme to potentiate the activity of both proteins. The multifunctional protein lactoferrin has many physiological possible roles. It is often referred to as an innate defense protein and frequently serves as the first line of defense in protection against pathogens. It has been shown to have the ability to bind iron, it is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, it is an antioxidant and it also has immunomodulatory properties. It has many beneficial properties, which make it a good candidate for a number of product applications. Considerable research is currently going on to explain the various suggested biological functions of lactoferrin.

Retinol binding protein 4(RBP4) belongs to the lipocalin family and is the specific carrier for retinol (vitamin A alcohol) in the blood. This protein was found to be expressed and secreted by adipose tissue, and was strongly associated with insulin resistance. It delivers retinol from the liver stores to the peripheral tissues. In plasma, the RBP-retinol complex interacts with transthyretin which prevents its loss by filtration through the kidney glomeruli.
RBP4 delivers retinol from the liver to the peripheral tissues. In plasma, the rbp-retinol complex interacts with transthyretin, this prevents its loss by filtration through the kidney glomeruli.

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the TNF-receptor superfamily. This receptor contributes to the clonal expansion, survival, and development of T cells. It can also induce proliferation in peripheral monocytes, enhance T cell apoptosis induced by TCR/CD3 triggered activation, and regulate CD28 co-stimulation to promote Th1 cell responses. The expression of this receptor is induced by lymphocyte activation. TRAF adaptor proteins have been shown to bind to this receptor and transduce the signals leading to activation of NF-kappaB.

LDHB is part of the lactate dehydrogenase family. LDHB is an oxidoreductase which catalyses the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate with concomitant interconversion of NADH and NAD+. LDHB catalyzes the oxidation of hydroxybutyrate, and frequently called Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase (HBD). The LDH family consists of three members, LDH-A, LDH-B and LDH-C. LDHs function as powerful markers for germ cell tumors.

Adiponectin, also referred to as Acrp30, AdipoQ and GBP-28, is a recently discovered 244 amino acid protein, the product of the apM1 gene, which is physiologically active and specifically and highly expressed in adipose cells (Adipokine). The protein belongs to the soluble defense collagen super family; it has a collagen-like domain structurally homologous with collagen VIII and X and complement factor C1q-like globular domain. APM-1 forms homotrimers, which are the building blocks for higher order complexes found circulating in serum.

Sorting nexin-5 (SNX5) belongs to the sorting nexin family, whose members contains a phox (PX) domain, (which is a phosphoinositide binding domain) and are involved in intracellular trafficking. SNX5 protein is a component of the mammalian retromer complex, which facilitates cargo recovery from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network. SNX5 binds to the Fanconi anemia, complementation group A protein.

Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) represents one of the main autoantigenic targets in autoimmune thyroid disease of humans. Its identity with the formerly so-called `microsomal antigen` has been shown several years ago. As an integral membrane glycoprotein it is restricted to the apical plasma membrane of the follicular epithelial cells and comprises two identical subunits of approx. 100 kDa molecular weight. The hemoprotein TPO plays a key role in the thyroid hormone biosynthesis by catalysing both the iodination of tyrosyl residues and the coupling of iodotyrosyl residues in thyroglobulin (TG) to form precursors of the thyroid hormones T4 and T3.

Homeodomain-only protein (HOPX) functions via its interaction with SRF, thus modulating the expression of SRF-dependent cardiac-specific genes and cardiac development. HOPX inhibits SRF-dependent transcription either by hindering SRF binding to DNA or by engaging histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins which prevent transcription by SRF. HOPX is a homeodomain protein which lacks certain conserved residues required for DNA binding. HOPX overexpression causes cardiac hypertrophy.

Pyruvate kinase is a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. The M2 isoenzyme of pyruvate kinase is specifically expressed at high levels in tumor cells, and can be measured in plasma of patients with advanced breast cancer. The marker is useful for measuring disease activity, sensitivity to chemotherapy and recurrence.

PLGF is a growth factor active in angiogenesis, and endothelial cell growth, stimulating their proliferation and migration. It binds to receptor vegfr-1/flt1.

Trichomonas vaginalis, an anaerobic, flagellated protozoan parasite, is most dominant protozoan causing sexual transmitted disease. T. vaginalis induced vaginal tract infection occurs as multiple steps involving interactions between host macromolecules and protozoan virulent factor. Adhension protein P65 of T. vaginalis has a vital part in assisting the penetration into vaginal tract surface.

sRANK Receptor is a part of of the TNF superfamily of ligands and receptors which participates in the regulation of specific immunity and bone turnover. sRANK Receptor was originally acknowledged as a dendritic-cell-membrane protein, which by interacting with RANKL augments the capacity of dendritic cells to stimulate naive T cell proliferation and to endorse the survival of RANK and T cells. The full length human RANK cDNA encodes a type I transmembrane protein of 616 amino acids with a predicted 183 amino acid extracellular domain and a 383 amino acid cytoplasmic domain. sRANK Receptor is also expressed in a various tissues including skeletal muscle, thymus, liver, colon, small intestine and adrenal gland.

Interleukin-3 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced primarily by activated T cells. IL-3 is thought to function via specific cell surface receptors to stimulate the proliferation, differentiation and survival of haematopoietic cell lines. IL-3 has also been shown to affect the functional activity of a variety of other cell types including mast cells, eosinophils, megakaryocytes and basophils.

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member D1 (AKR1D1) belongs to the AKR superfamily. The AKR family proteins are soluble NADPH oxidoreductases, which have vital roles in the metabolism of drugs, carcinogens and reactive aldehydes. AKR1D1 is also responsible for the catalysis of the 5-beta-reduction of bile acid intermediates and steroid hormones that carry a delta (4)-3-1 structure. AKR1D1 is highly expressed in the liver, colon and testis. Deficiency of the AKR1D1 enzyme may contribute to hepatic dysfunction.

IL-1 alpha is produced by activated macrophages.IL-1 alpha stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing il-2 release, b-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL1A proteins take part in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and stimulate the release of prostaglandin and collagenase from synovial cells.

Osteoprotegerin, which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily and is involved in the regulation of bone metabolism. OPGand its ligand (OPGL) are cytokines regulating osteoclasto-genesis. OPGL binds to receptors on the surface of preosteoclasts and stimulates their differentiation into active osteoclasts. This leads to osteoresorption. OPG inhibits this osteoclasto-genesis (OPG is secreted by osteoblasts, and binds to OPGL, thus inhibiting maturation of osteoclasts and osteoresorption). The degree and activity of osteoresorption depend mainly on the balance between OPG and its ligand (OPGL); factors increasing OPGL expression mostly reduce OPG expression and vice versa.

HtrA2 also called Omi is a mammalian serine protease at high temperatures and has a chaperone activity at low temperature. The full-length HtrA2 is synthesized as a precursor protein and then targeted to the mitochondria where it is matured by the removal of N-terminal 133 residues. Mature HtrA2 consists of a putative transmembrane domain; an inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP)-binding motif; a single C-terminal PDZ domain that mediates protein-protein interactions. Recently, HtrA2 has known to contribute both to caspase-dependent and caspase-independent cell death.

LDHA catalyzes the conversion of L-lactate and NAD to pyruvate and NADH in the final step of anaerobic glycolysis. LDHA is localized primarily in muscle tissue and is part of the lactate dehydrogenase family. Mutations in LDHA have been linked to exertional myoglobinuria. LDH1 is decreased in essential thrombocythemia. LDHA is induced through a non-genomic pathway of estrogen action. Reduction in LDH-A activity results in stimulation of mitochondrial respiration and decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential.

Cathepsin H is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase important in the overall degradation of lysosomal proteins. Cathepsin H is composed of a dimer of disulfide-linked heavy and light chains, both produced from a single protein precursor. Cathepsin H, which belongs to the peptidase C1 protein family, can act both as an aminopeptidase and as an endopeptidase. Increased expression of the Cathepsin H gene has been associated with malignant progression of prostate tumors.