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Leptin Receptor is a part of the gp130 family of cytokine receptors that stimulate gene transcription by activating cytosolic STAT proteins. Leptin Receptor plays a role in the regulation of fat metabolism and in novel hematopoietic pathway that is obligatory for normal lymphopoiesis. Leptin Receptorparticipates in the regulation of counter-regulatory response to hypoglycemia by inhibiting neurons of the parabrachial nucleus.Leptin Receptoraffectsspecifically on T lymphocyte responses.

SEMA7A (semaphorin-7A isoform 1), is a membrane-bound semaphorin which is linked with cell surfaces via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) linkage. SEMA7A encourages formation of focal adhesion complexes, activation of the protein kinase PTK2/FAK1 and subsequent phosphorylation of MAPK3 & MAPK1. SEMA7A takes a vital part in integrin-mediated signaling and functions in regulating cell migration as well as immune responses. In addition, SEMA7A promotes the production of proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages & monocytes.

"Epiregulin is part of the EGF family. Epiregulin functions as a ligand of EGFR, as well as a ligand of most members of the ERBB (v-erb-b2 oncogene homolog) family of tyrosine-kinase receptors.Epiregulin is expressed mostly in the placenta and peripheral blood leukocytes and in specific carcinomas of the bladder, lung, kidney and colon. Epiregulin stimulates the proliferation of keratinocytes, hepatocytes, fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells. Epiregulin inhibits the growth of several tumor-derived epithelial cell lines. Human Epiregulin is initially synthesized as a glycosylated 19.0 kDa transmembrane precursor protein, which is processed by proteolytic cleavage to produce a 6.0 kDa mature secreted sequence."

Lysostaphin, an endopeptidase specific for the cell wall peptidoglycan of staphylococci, is an extremely potent anti-staphylococcal agent. Lysostaphin is used as a research and diagnostic tool. Because it lyses staphylococci efficiently, it is widely used when preparing staphylococcal DNA or other cellular components for genetic and biochemical studies and for the preparation of protoplasts for transformation. Preparation and analysis of bacterial DNA has become a powerful tool used by clinical and other microbiologists in epidemiological studies aimed at tracing sources of infection or bacterial contamination.

GDNF promotes the survival and differentiation of minergic neurons in culture, and is able to prevent apoptosis of motor neurons induced by axotomy. The encoded protein is processed to a mature secreted form that exists as a homodimer. The mature form of the protein is a ligand for the product of the RET (rearranged during transfection) protooncogene. In addition to the transcript encoding GDNF, two additional alternative transcripts encoding distinct proteins, referred to as astrocyte-derived trophic factors, have also been described. Mutations in this gene may be associated with Hirschsprung disease.
GDNF enhances survival and morphological differentiation of minergic neurons and increases their high-affinity uptake.

The somatomedins, or insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), comprise a family of peptides that takes part in mammalian growth and development. IGF1 mediates various growth-promoting effects of growth hormone (GH; MIM 139250). Early studies showed that growth hormone did not directly stimulate the incorporation of sulfate into cartilage, but rather acted through a serum factor, termed 'sulfation factor,' which later became known as 'somatomedin' (Daughaday et al., 1972). 3 main somatomedins have been characterized: somatomedin C (IGF1), somatomedin A (IGF2; MIM 147470), and somatomedin B (MIM 193190) (Rotwein, 1986; Rosenfeld, 2003).

GDF3 is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily though it does not show similarity pattern of conserved cysteine residues. GDF3 is linked to Vg-1 and human BMP-4. GDF3 transcripts are identified mainly in adult bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and adipose tissue. GDF3 expression is upregulated strongly in high-fat-fed C57Bl/6J FABP4/aP2 null mice, which develop obesity but not the related hyperglycemia or hyperinsulinemia characteristic of type II diabetes. GDF3 expression therefore bonds fatty acid metabolism in adipocytes and the expression of a differentiation regulator belonging to the bone morphogenetic proteins.

P4HB is a multifunctional and highly abundant enzyme that is part of the protein disulfide isomerase family. When present as a tetramer consisting of two alpha and two beta subunits, P4HB has a role in hydroxylation of prolyl residues in preprocollagen. P4HB is a disulfide isomerase containing two thioredoxin domains that catalyze the formation, breakage and rearrangement of disulfide bonds.

a-Synuclein (amino acids 1-140), an acidic neuronal protein of 140 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant and is natively unfolded with an extended structure primarily composed of random coils. a-synuclein has been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and more recently, to be an important regulatory component of vesicular transport in neuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies have shown that a-synuclein has chaperone activity and that this activity is lost upon removing its C-terminal acidic tail (amino acids 96-140).

GDF8 is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. This gene is thought to encode a secreted protein which negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth.

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.

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.

SERPINI1 (Neuroserpin) is an inhibitory serpin which is expressed primarily in the central nervous system. Even though the physiological target of SERPINI1 is still vague, amassed evidence suggest that SERPINI1 has an imperative role in controlling proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) during synaptogenesis and the subsequent development of neuronal plasticity. The neuroprotective role of SERPINI1 has been demonstrated in transgenic mice lacking SERPINI1 expression. The deficiency of SERPINI1 in these mice is linked with motor neuron disease characterized by axonal degradation. In humans, defects in SERPINI1, caused by point mutations in the neuroserpin gene, trigger a hereditary disorder known as the familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies (FENIB).

Tropomodulin 3 (TMOD3) is a member of the tropomodulin family. TMOD3 prevents the elongation and depolymerization of the actin filaments at the pointed end. Actin cytoskeleton regulation by filament capping proteins is essential to many dynamic cellular functions. TMOD3 functions as a negative regulator of cell migration; nevertheless the processes behind its cellular functions are unknown. The Tmod/TM complex influences the formation of the short actin protofilament, which sequentially outlines the geometry of the membrane skeleton.

Inhibitor of Growth Family, Member 2 (ING2) belongs to the inhibitor of growth (ING) family. ING family members associate with and modulate the activity of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes and serve in DNA repair and apoptosis. ING2 appears to be involved in p53/TP53 activation and p53/TP53-dependent apoptotic pathways, most likely by enhancing acetylation of p53/TP53. ING2 is a component of an mSin3A-like corepressor complex, which is probably involved in deacetylation of nucleosomal histones. ING2 activity is modulated by binding to phosphoinositides (PtdInsPs).

Developmentally-regulated GTP-binding protein 1 (DRG1) is a member of the GTP1/OBG family. DRG1 has a role in cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as in apoptosis, proposing a role in tumor formation and metastasis. Expression of the DRG1 was considerably reduced in breast tumor cells, particularly in patients with lymph node or bone metastasis as compared to those with localized breast cancer. The DRG1 protein is expressed at high levels in the heart, kidney and skeletal muscle and at lower levels in the brain, liver, placenta, lung, colon and spleen.

Phosphoglycerate kinase 1, also referred to PGK1, is an X-linked enzyme whichfunctions in the glycolytic pathway.The gene encoding the erythrocyte enzyme PGK1 & it seems that PGK-1 plays a role as a polymerase alpha cofactor protein (primer recognition protein) as a glyxolytic enzyme role. The PGK1 catalyzes the reversible conversion of 1, 3-diphosphoglycerate to 3-phosphoglycerate during glycolysis, generating one molecule of ATP.

Peptidase Inhibitor 3, also referred to PI3, is neutrophil and pancreatic elastase-specific inhibitor of skin. The protein may prevent elastase mediated tissue proteolysis. PI3 has shown inhibition of alpha-4-beta-2/CHRNA2-CHRNB2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, a weak inhibition on Kv11.1/KCNH2/ERG1 and on the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1.

KPNB1 is a member of the importin beta family. The KPNB1 protein is engaged in nuclear protein import, either by coupling itself with an adapter protein (e.g., importin-alpha subunit which binds to nuclear localization signals (NLS) in cargo substrates), or by functioning autonomously as a nuclear transport receptor (acts as NLS receptor, docking of the importin/substrate complex to the nuclear pore complex).

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.

CRYGC is a member of the beta/gamma-crystallin family. Mammalian lens crystallins are distributed into alpha, beta, and gamma families; beta and gamma crystallins are also considered as a superfamily. Gamma-crystallins are a homogeneous group of extremely symmetrical, monomeric proteins usually missing connecting peptides and terminal extensions and are differentially regulated after early development. Three pseudogenes (gamma-E,F,G) and four gamma-crystallin genes (gamma-A,B,C,D) are structured in a genomic sector as a gene cluster. Gamma-crystallins are involved in cataract formation as a result of aging or mutations in specific genes. Mutations in CRYGC result in cataract Coppock-like (CCL) and cataract autosomal dominant (ADC).

Cyclophilin-G is a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family. PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and speeds up the protein folding. PPIG catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and is involved in the folding, transport, and assembly of proteins. PPIG is localized to the nuclear speckles, a nuclear compartment rich in splicing factors, and cooperates with the splicing factors SC35 and pinin. Cyclophilin-G also takes part in the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing.

Cytohesin 2 (CYTH2) is an ARF-1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). ARF (ADP ribosylation factor) proteins are a part of a group within the RAS superfamily and bindes GTP-b proteins central to the process of vesicle budding. CYTH2 promotes guanine-nucleotide exchange on ARF1, ARF3 and ARF6. Furthermore, CYTH2 promotes the activation of ARF factors through replacement of GDP with GTP. The protein encoded by CYTH2 is a member of the PSCD family. Members of PSCD family appear to mediate the regulation of protein sorting and membrane trafficking. The cell membrane form, in association with ARL4 proteins, recruits ARF6 to the plasma membrane.