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Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are a large family of zinc metalloenzymes which catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. These metalloenzymes participate in various biological processes, including respiration, calcification, acid-base balance, bone resorption, and the formation of aqueous humor, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and gastric acid. The metalloenzymes exhibit extensive diversity in tissue distribution and in their subcellular localization. Carbonic Anhydrase XI (CA11) is probably a secreted protein, nevertheless, drastic changes at active site residues completely conserved in CA isozymes with catalytic activity, make it unlikely that CA11 has carbonic anhydrase activity. CA11 shares properties in common with 2 other acatalytic CA isoforms, CA VIII and CA X. CA11 is amply expressed in the brain, and may have a general role in the central nervous system.

CCN1 is a part of the extremely conserved cyclin family, whose members are characterized by a remarkable periodicity in protein abundance through the cell cycle. Cyclins which function as regulators of CDK kinases, shows the highest similarity with cyclin G. Different cyclins display diverse expression and degradation patterns which contribute to the chronological coordination of every mitotic event. The transcript of CCN1was found to be expressed continually during cell cycle progression.

Processing of Precursor 4 (POP4) is a member of the eukaryotic/archaeal RNase P protein component 1 family. POP4 is one of the protein subunits of the small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein complexes: the endoribonuclease for mitochondrial RNA processing complex and the ribonuclease P complex. POP4 is confined to the nucleus and associates promptly with the RNA component of this complexes.POP4 is participating in processing of precursor RNAs.

UCN119B is a member of the PDE6D/unc-119 family. UCN119B has a large number of photoreceptors of the retina. Additionaly, UCN119B has a strong homology with the C. elegans unc119 and is able to functionally complement the C. elegans unc119 mutation gene.

PTPN7 performs specifically on tyrosine-phosphorylated MAPK1. PTPN7 takes part in the regulation of signal transduction and T and B-lymphocyte development.

A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

CRP is an acute phase protein that correlates with inflammatory disease and is synthesized by hepatocytes during the acute phase response by certain cytokines (IL-1 and TNF Alpha and Beta). CRP levels increase dramatically and serve as a useful marker of inflammation in such conditions as bacterial infection, rheumatoid arthritis, viral infections, transplantation rejection, meningitis, myocardial infarction, septicemia, osteomyelitis and others. CRP is also highly correlated to Serum Amyloid A levels.

S100A12 belongs to the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 family members are localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a wide range of cells, and are involved in the regulation of a number of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100A12 may be involved in specific calcium-dependent signal transduction pathways and its regulatory effect on cytoskeletal components may modulate various neutrophil activities.

Decorin (DCN) is a small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan which is closely related in structure to biglycan protein. Decorin is a secreted protein which binds to collagen and fibronectin in extracellular matrix. Decorin appears in different glycoforms, substituted with chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate consistent with the original tissue. DCN contains one attached glycosaminoglycan chain. Decorin influences the rate of fibril formation. Decorin is capable of suppressing the growth of various tumor cell lines. DCN gene defects cause corneal dystrophy. The DCN gene is a candidate gene for Marfan syndrome.

HSPA8 is part of the heat shock protein 70 family which includes both heat-inducible and constitutively expressed proteins (heat-shock cognate proteins). HSPA8 is a heat-shock cognate protein that binds to nascent polypeptides to facilitate correct folding. HSPA8 plays a role as an ATPase in the disassembly of clathrin-coated vesicles through transport of membrane components through the cell. HSPA8 is expressed in colon cancer cells, HSPA8 takes part in reovirus outer capsid disassembly, through membrane penetration, to plan the entering particle for gene expression and replication. serum HSPA8 concentrations are reduced in normal human pregnancy. HSPA8 plays a role in androgen action on dermal papilla cells. HSPA8 is directly linked with Influenza virus matrix protein 1 and thus required for viral production.

Mouse Complement 5a (C5a) is a glycoprotein which is a member of a family of structurally and functionally related proteins known as anaphylatoxins. C5a is a 77 a.a. peptide created by the C5a convertase proteolytic cleavage of C5 ? chain in the classical and alternative complement pathway (C4b2a3b, C3bBb3b). The mouse C5a has four ? helices and three intrachain disulfide bonds which form a triple loop structure. C5a functions through G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) (C5aR/CD88). C5a is a effective chemoattractant and anaphylatoxin which functions on all classes of leukocytes and on many other cell types including endothelial, smooth muscle, kidney, liver, and neural cells. Mouse C5a also mediates IL-8 release from bronchial epithelial cells. Furthermore, it triggers an oxidative surge in macrophages and neutrophils, causing the release of histamine in basophils and mast cells. The C5a anaphylatoxin activity on hepatocytes results indirectly from interaction with nonparenchymal cell via prostanoid secretion.

Follistatin is a single-chain gonadal protein that specifically inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone release. The single FST gene encodes two isoforms, FST317 and FST344 containing 317 and 344 amino acids respectively, resulting from alternative splicing of the precursor mRNA. In a study in which 37 candidate genes were tested for linkage and association with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hyperandrogenemia in 150 families, evidence was found for linkage between PCOS and follistatin. Follistatin binds directly to activin and functions as an activin antagonist. specific inhibitor of the biosynthesis and secretion of pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (fsh).

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.

Platelet factor-4 is a 70-amino acid protein that is released from the alpha-granules of activated platelets.PF4’s major physiologic role appears to be neutralization of molecules on the endothelial surface of blood vessels, thereby inhibiting local antithrombin III activity and promoting coagulation. As a strong chemoattractant for neutrophils and fibroblasts, PF4 probably has a role in inflammation and wound repair. Oncostatin-A is a member of the CXC chemokine family. Furthermore, it is used as an inhibitor in the angiogenesis during tumor therapy.

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.

Secernin 1 (SCRN1) which is a member of the peptidase C69 family, regulates exocytosis in mast cells. SCRN1 increases both the level of secretion and the sensitivity of mast cells to stimulation with calcium.

Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K, also known as HNRNPK, is a part of the subfamily of ubiquitously expressed heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). HNRNPK takes part in p53/TP53 reaction to DNA damage, acting at the level of both transcription activation and repression. HNRNPK is located in the nucleoplasm and has 3 repeats of KH domains which bind to RNAs.

Actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 3 (ARPC3) which Belongs to the ARPC3 family is one of 7 subunits of the human Arp2/3 protein complex. The Arp2/3 complex is involved in regulation of actin polymerization and together with an activating nucleation-promoting factor (NPF) mediates the formation of branched actin networks. ARPC3 which is localized to the cytoplasm and cytoskeleton, interacts with p20-ARC and takes part in the structural integrity of the protein complex.

Nephroblastoma Overexpressed (NOV) is a member of the CCN family of secreted cysteine rich regulatory proteins. The full length NOV protein is comprised of 4 structural domains, which present distinct, and sometimes opposing, biological activities. An elevated expression of NOV is linked with certain tumors, including Wilm’s tumor and most nephroblastomas. On the other hand, in other tumor types and certain cancer cell lines, increased tumorgenicity and proliferation is associated with decreased NOV expression.

Omentin is a recently recognized gene highly localized to the mental tissue (visceral adipose tissue). Omentin is present in the stromal vascular cells in the adipose tissue rather than in the adipocytes. Omentin is predominantly expressed in the visceral adipose tissue than the subcutaneous tissue, with the omentin mRNA being 150 times higher in the visceral adipose tissue. Omentin has also been detected in human blood using western blot analysis, and seems to increase insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in mice. Omentin seems to increase Akt phosphorylation irrespective of insulin presence. Its role in glucose metabolism and obesity remains to be described; an insulin-sensitizing action is possible.Differences in Omentin expression has been noted in adipose tissue from normals and patients with inflammatory bowel disease although its significance is unknown.

Eotaxin-2, also called MPIF2 & Ckb6, is a novel CC chemokine produced by activated monocytes and T lymphocytes. Eotaxin-2 selectively chemoattracts cells expressing CCR3 including eosinophils, basophils, Th2 T cells, mast cells, and certain subsets of dendritic cells. Furthermore, Eotaxin-2 inhibits the proliferation of multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cells. The mature protein, which includes C-terminal truncation, contains 78 amino acids (92 amino acids for the mouse homolog, without C-terminal truncation).
CCL24 functions as a chemotactic chemokine for resting t-lymphocytes, and eosinophils. CCL24 has lower chemotactic activity for neutrophils but none for monocytes and activated lymphocytes. CCL24 is a strong suppressor of colony formation by a multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cell line and binds to CCR3.

CA8 was first called CA-related protein since there is a sequence similarity to other identified carbonic anhydrase genes. Still, this protein has no carbonic anhydrase activity - the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. CA8 still holds a carbonic anhydrase designation due to obvious sequence similarity to other members of the carbonic anhydrase gene family. Mutations in CA8 result in cerebellar ataxia mental retardation and dysequilibrium syndrome type 3 (CMARQ3).