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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.

Serratia marcescens secretes an endonuclease that has exceptionally high specific activity to the medium that surrounds it. The Benzonase Nuclease is mainly used for elimination of nucleic acid contamination from purified proteins, downstream processing, reduction of viscosity etc. Nucleic acid contaminants are caused by nuclease released to the medium. The DNA is being destroyed by the release of the S. marcescens nuclease and it acts as the killer gene for the auto destruction of microorganisms.

Aspartoacylase 3 (ACY3) belongs to the Aspartoacylase subfamily. ACY3 has a vital role in deacetylating mercapturic acids in kidney proximal tubules. Aspartoacylase 3 localizes to the cytoplasm of S2 and S3 proximal tubules and also to the apical domain of S1 proximal tubules. In addition, ACY3 protein is expressed at low levels in the stomach, testis, heart, brain, lung and liver, and can function as an HCV (Hepatitis C virus) core binding protein.

SAE1 and SAE2 form heterodimers which take part in the posttranslational modification of proteins (sumoylation). This process regulates protein structure as well as intracellular localization of the target. SAE1/SAE2 may indicate on dermatomyositis (DM) as autoantibodies against those 2 proteins have been found in patients.

Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase-2, aka ENPP2, a part of the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatasefamily. ENPP2 is able to cut the phosphodiester bond between the alpha and the beta position of triphosphate nucleotides, acting as an ectonucleotide phosphodiesterase producing pyrophosphate, as most members of the ENPP family. It is unlike ENPP-1 and ENPP-3, has weak activity against nucleotides, but shows a lysophospholipase D activity which allows the formation of LPA and choline from lysophosphatidylcholine. As well, ENPP-2 and LPA are involved in several inflammatory-driven diseases such as arthritis and asthma.

DARS uses a 2 step reaction to catalyze the specific attachment of an amino acid to its cognate tRNA: the amino acid (AA) is first activated by ATP to form AA-AMP and then transferred to the acceptor end of the tRNA.

GZMK is a part of a group of related serine proteases from the cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic lymphocytes. Cytolytic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells have the outstanding ability to bind, recognize and lyse specific target cells. They defend their host by lysing cells bearing on their surface 'nonself' antigens, usually peptides or proteins resulting from infection by intracellular pathogens.

Caspase 3 Apoptosis-Related Cysteine Peptidase (CASP3) belongs to the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family. Sequential activation of caspases plays a key role in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis. Caspases exist as inactive proenzymes which undergo proteolytic processing at conserved aspartic residues to generate 2 subunits, large and small, that dimerize to create the active enzyme. CASP3 protein cleaves and activates caspases 6, 7 and 9, and the protein itself is processed by caspases 8, 9 and 10. CASP3 is the leading caspase involved in the cleavage of amyloid-beta 4A precursor protein, which is linked with neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. In addition, CASP3 is involved in the cleavage of huntingtin. CASP3 also cleaves and activates sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) between the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper domain and the membrane attachment domain. CASP3 initiates cell adhesion in sympathetic neurons through RET cleavage.

PRCP is a plasma protein which takes part in the cleavage of C-terminal amino acids linked to proline in proteinfor example angiotensin-2 & 3 at acidic pHenvironment rather than at neutral pHwhich exhibit less activity. This cleavage is important since Angiotensin-2 takes part in regulation of blood pressure & electrolyte balance which is essential to hypertension.

UBE2N belongs to the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family. UBE2N catalyzes the ATP-dependent synthesis of non-canonical polyubiquitin chains, a process which doesn’t set in motion proteasomal degradation. UBE2N mediates the transcription of some target genes and is believed to have a role in cell cycle progression; cellular differentiation and DNA repair mechanisms which ensure cell survival after DNA damage.

NMNAT1 enzyme is vital for NAD biosynthesis, catalyzing the condensation of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) or nicotinic acid mononucleotide (NaMN) with the AMP moiety of ATP to form NAD or NaAD. NMNAT1 is widely expressed with high levels in skeletal muscle, heart, liver and kidney. This protein appears to have the ability to protect against axonal degeneration following mechanical or toxic insults.

Inositol oxygenase is a non-heme di-iron enzyme which oxidizes myo-inositol to glucuronic acid. In addition, inositol oxygenase oxidizes the less abundant chiro isomer of inositol. MIOX enzyme is a component of the only known pathway for the catabolism of inositol in humans. MIOX is expressed mostly in the kidneys. Reduction of Inositol Oxygenase and accumulation of polyols, such as inositol and xylitol, have been implicated as contributing factors in complications linked with diabetes.

Spermine synthase (SMS) is amember of the spermidine/spermine synthase family. SMS is an enzyme which converts spermidine into spermine. The SMS enzyme is essential for normal viability, growth and fertility involved in polyamine metabolism. Defects in the SMS gene are the cause of Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS), also known as X-linked mental retardation Snyder-Robinson type. SRS is categorized by moderate intellectual deficit, hypotonia, an unsteady gait, osteoporosis, kyphoscoliosis and facial asymmetry, its transmission is X-linked recessive.

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.

MMP28, which belongs to the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, takes part in the breakdown of extracellular matrix for both normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction and tissue remodeling, and disease processes, like asthma and metastasis. MMP28 is a secreted enzyme which degrades casein. MMP28 participates in tissue homeostasis and in wound repair.

FBP1 is a gluconeogenesis regulatory protein which catalyzes the hydrolysis of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6-phosphate and inorganic phosphate. FBP1 deficiency is associated with hypoglycemia and metabolic acidosis. FBP1 regulates mouse endogenous glucose production. FBP1 coupled with phosphofructokinase (PFK) takes part in the metabolism of pancreatic islet cells.

Ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase (RPE) is a member of the ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase family. RPE is the enzyme which converts D-ribulose 5-phosphate into D-xylulose 5-phosphate in Calvin's reductive pentose phosphate cycle. Therefore, the RPE enzyme has one substrate, D-ribulose 5-phosphate, and one product, D-xylulose 5-phosphate. RPE participates in three metabolic pathways: pentose phosphate pathway, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and carbon fixation.

AHCY is an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydrolysis of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) to adenosine (Ado) and L-homocysteine (Hcy). AHCY controls the intracellular S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) concentration that is crucial for transmethylation reactions. AHCY deficiency causes hypermethioninemia.

Alanine aminotransferase 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. Multiple transcript variants encoding various isoforms have been found for GPT2.

MTHFS is a cytosolic protein which takes part in the formate metabolic process. MTHFS along with a magnesium cofactor catalyzes the ATP-dependent reaction which reduces 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) to 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate(MTHF). MTHF is the substrate used by MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) to generate 5-MTHF. In addition, MTHF is a coenzyme used in thymidine biosynthesis by thymidylate synthase (FAD).

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein present in fetal digestive-tract tissues; it’s involved in cell adhesion. The production of CEA stops before birth. CEA is called tumor marker since its elevated levels are found in the serum from individuals with colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, lung and breast carcinomas and in heavy smokers.
There are also benign conditions that elevate CEA levels such as smoking, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors (in the equivalent organs which have cancers with elevated CEA). Typically, higher levels of CEA are found in men, smokers, and older individuals.
The presence of CEA assists in screening, in evaluating recurrent or disseminated disease, and in determining the success of surgical removal of malignant tumors.
CEA levels can be used as indicators of treatment success. The normal values range from 0.0 to 2.5 ng/ml of serum (from blood), in non-smokers, a greater amount than that may be suggestive of cancer. Levels above 20 ng/ml before treatment are associated with cancer which has already metastasized. Benign conditions do not usually cause a CEA increase over 10 ng/ml.
The high levels of CEA should return to normal after successful therapy, however if during follow up there’s an elevation in CEA levels it indicates a recurrence of tumor.
Carcinoembryonic antigen family belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily; it consists of 29 genes, 18 of which are normally expressed.

TIMP2 belongs to the TIMP gene family. The proteins encoded by this gene family are natural inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinases, a group of peptidases that take part in degradation of the extracellular matrix. Besides having an inhibitory role against metalloproteinases, the encoded protein has a exclusive part among TIMPfamily members in its capability to directly suppress the proliferation of endothelial cells. Consequently, the encoded protein is crucial to the conservation of tissue homeostasis by suppressing the production of quiescent tissues as an answer to angiogenic factors, and by inhibiting protease activity in tissues undergoing renovation of the extracellular matrix.

Aminoacylase-1 is a cytosolic, homodimeric, zinc-binding enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of acylated L-amino acids to L-amino acids and acyl group, and has been postulated to function in the catabolism and salvage of acylated amino acids. ACY1 has been assigned to chromosome 3p21.1, a region reduced to homozygosity in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), and its expression has been reported to be reduced or undetectable in SCLC cell lines and tumors. The amino acid sequence of human aminoacylase-1 is highly homologous to the porcine counterpart, and ACY1 is the first member of a new family of zinc-binding enzymes.