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Sclerostin Domain Containing 1 (SOSTDC1) belongs to the sclerostin family and an N-glycosylated, secreted protein with a C-terminal cystine knot-like domain. The SOSTDC1 protein acts as a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist. Specifically, SOSTDC1 directly associates with BMPs, prohibiting them from binding their receptors, thus regulating BMP signaling throughout cellular proliferation, differentiation, and programmed cell death. SOSTDC1 may also be involved in the onset of endometrial receptivity for implantation/sensitization for the decidual cell reaction Enhances Wnt signaling and hinders TGF-beta signaling. In addition, SOSTDC1 directly antagonizes the activity of BMP2, BMP4, BMP6 and BMP7 in a dose-dependent manner.

Neurotensin (NTS) is a common precursor for 2 peptides, neuromedin N and neurotensin. Neurotensin is a secreted tridecapeptide, which is generally distributed throughout the central nervous system, and may serve as a neurotransmitter or a neuromodulator. NTS is involved in the maintenance of gut structure and function, and in the regulation of fat metabolism. Tissue-specific processing may initiate the formation in some tissues of larger forms of neuromedin N and neurotensin. The large forms may embody more stable peptides which are also biologically active.

Chromosome 9 Open Reading Frame 95 (C9ORF95/NRK1) is a member of the uridine kinase family. NAD+ is vital for life in all organisms, both as a coenzyme for oxidoreductases and as a source of ADPribosyl groups used in countless reactions, including those which delay aging in experimental systems. Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are defined as the vitamin precursors of NAD+. C9ORF95 catalyzes the phosphorylation of nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinic acid riboside (NaR) to form nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinic acid mononucleotide (NaMN). C9ORF95 also phosphorylates the antitumor drugs tiazofurin and 3-deazaguanosine.

Ferritin is a fairly large, iron-storage heteropolymeric protein composed of 2 subunit types, light Ferritin & heavy Ferritin polypeptides, which is expressed in most kinds of cells and co-assemble in different proportion in a tissue-specific manner. Ferritin is composed of 24 self-assembled polypeptide subunits of the heavy and light ferritin chains and is characterized by the capacity to remove Fe (II) from solution in the presence of oxygen.
Ferritin light polypeptide protein is the main intracellular iron storage protein in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Variation in ferritin subunit composition influence the rates of iron uptake and release in various tissues. A key function of ferritin is the storage of iron in a soluble and nontoxic state. Defects in this light chain ferritin gene are associated with several neurodegenerative diseases and hyper ferrit anemia-cataract syndrome.
Ferritin stores iron in a soluble, nontoxic, readily accessible form. Ferritin is needed for iron homeostasis. Iron is taken up in the ferrous form and deposited as ferric hydroxides after it has been oxidized.

GAS7 is mainly expressed in terminally differentiated brain cells and predominantly in mature cerebellar Purkinje neurons. GAS7 is involved in neuronal development by promoting maturation and morphological differentiation of cerebellar neurons. Inhibition of GAS7 production in terminally differentiating cultures of embryonic murine cerebellum impedes neurite outgrowth. Over-expression of GAS7 initiats the development of human osteosarcoma.

CFL2 protein is a member of the actin-binding proteins ADF family which contains 1 ADF-H domain. Cofilin is a broadly distributed intracellular actin-modulating protein which binds and depolymerizes filamentous F-actin and inhibits the polymerization of monomeric G-actin in a pH-dependent manner. Defects in the CFL2 gene are the cause of nemaline myopathy type 7 (NEM7).

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice with experimentally induced allergic pulmonary inflammation contains a novel 9.4 kDa cysteine-rich secreted protein, RELM-alpha (FIZZ1, found in inflammatory zone). RELM-alpha is a secreted protein that has a restricted tissue distribution with highest levels in adipose tissue stroma. Murine RELM-alpha (FIZZ1) is the founding member of a new gene family including two other murine genes expressed, respectively, in intestinal crypt epithelium (RELM-beta) and white adipose tissue (Resistin), and two related human genes.
RELMalpha inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes but has no effect on proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. RELMalpha is able to form heterooligomers with resistin but not RELMbeta. Since RELMalpha is expressed by adipose tissue and it is a secreted factor, our findings suggest that RELMalpha may be involved in the control of the adipogenesis as well as in the process of muscle differentiation.
In the lung, RELM-alpha is induced by hypoxia and was renamed as hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF). HIMF strongly activated Akt phosphorylation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 (10 micromol/L) inhibited HIMF-activated Akt phosphorylation. It also inhibited HIMF stimulated RPSM proliferation. Thus, the PI3K/Akt pathway, at least in part, mediates the proliferative effect of HIMF. Further studies showed that HIMF had angiogenic and vasoconstrictive properties. HIMF increased pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance. Further studies suggest that HIMF regulates apoptosis and may participate in lung alveolarization and maturation.

Prorelaxin H2 (RLN2) is a member of a family which is produced by the ovary, targets the mammalian reproductive system to ripen the cervix, elongate the pubic symphysis and inhibit uterine contraction. It may also have other roles in boosting sperm motility, regulating blood pressure, controlling heart rate and releasing vasopressin. RLN2 is a peptide hormone linked to several therapeutically relevant physiological effects, including regulation of collagen metabolism and multiple vascular control pathways. The active form of the RLN2 protein consists of an A chain and a B chain linked by disulfide bonds.

Ring Finger Protein 7, also known as RNF7, is an extremely conserved ring finger protein. RNF7 is a vital subunit of SKP1-cullin/CDC53-F box protein ubiquitin ligases that are a part of the protein degradation machinery important for cell cycle progression and signal transduction. RNF7 is a substrate of casein kinase II (CSNK2A1/CKII) and also interacts with it. The phosphorylation of RNF7 by CSNK2A1 promotes the degradation of IkappaBalpha (CHUK/IKK-alpha/IKBKA) and p27Kip1(CDKN1B).

Retinitis pigmentosa 9 (RP9) is assumed to be a target protein for the PIM1 kinase. The RP9 protein may have some roles in B-cell proliferation in association with PIM1. RP9 can be bound and phosphorylated by the protooncogene PIM1 product, a serine/threonine protein kinase. RP9 localizes in nuclear speckles containing the splicing factors, and has a part in pre-mRNA splicing. RP9 gene mutations result in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa-9.

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.

Actin is a muscle protein localized in the I band of the myofibrils; acting along with myosin, it is responsible for contraction and relaxation of muscle. Each actin protomer binds one molecule of ATP and has one high affinity site for either calcium or magnesium ions, as well as several low affinity sites. Actin exists as a monomer in low salt concentrations, but filaments form rapidly as salt concentration rises, with the consequent hydrolysis of ATP. It occurs in globular (G-actin) and fibrous (F-actin) forms. Actin is found in all eukaryotic cells (except for nematode sperm). Actin is one of the most highly-conserved proteins, differing by no more than 20% in species as diverse as algae and humans. Its other functions include cell motility, cell division and cytokinesis, vesicle and organelle movement, cell signaling, and the establishment and maintenance of cell junctions and cell shape.

Insulin decreases blood glucose concentration. It increases cell permeability to monosaccharides, amino acids and fatty acids. It accelerates glycolysis, the pentose phosphate cycle, and glycogen synthesis in liver.

Factor that is thought to be a regulator of hematopoiesis. It has been shown to enhance the growth of human mast cells and megakaryoblastic leukemic cells as well as murine helper t-cell clones. IL-9 is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 32-39 that is derived from T-cells, and maps to human chromosome 5.

LYVE-1 has been identified as a major receptor for HA (extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan) on the lymph vessel wall. The deduced amino acid sequence of LYVE-1 predicts a 322-residue type I integral membrane polypeptide 41% similar to the CD44 HA receptor with a 212-residue extracellular domain containing a single Link module the prototypic HA binding domain of the Link protein superfamily. Like CD44, the LYVE-1 molecule binds both soluble and immobilized HA. However, unlike CD44, the LYVE-1 molecule colocalizes with HA on the luminal face of the lymph vessel wall and is completely absent from blood vessels. Hence, LYVE-1 is the first lymph-specific HA receptor to be characterized and is a uniquely powerful marker for lymph vessels themselves.

SORBS3 is an SH3 domain-containing adaptor protein. The existence of SH3 domains in the SORBS3 protein have a role in its capability to attach to other cytoplasmic molecules and contribute to cystoskeletal organization, cell adhesion and migration, signaling, and gene expression. Various transcript variants encoding different isoforms are known for this gene.

TSSK2 is a testis-specific serine/threonine-protein kinase required during spermatid development which phosphorylates TSKS at 'Ser-288' and SPAG16. TSSK2 takes part in the late stages of spermatogenesis, during the reconstruction of the cytoplasm. During spermatogenesis, TSSK2 is necessary for the transformation of a ring-shaped structure around the base of the flagellum originating from the chromatoid body.

Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (M CSF) or colony stimulating factor 1, is a cytokine, that promoted differentiation in hematopoietic stem cells to macrophages. Another role of M CSF is to bind to its receptor (colony stimulating factor 1 receptor) and to take part in placenta growth and development.

The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a family of secreted signaling molecules that can induce ectopic bone growth. Many BMPs are part of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) superfamily. BMPs were originally identified by an ability of demineralized bone extract to induce endochondral osteogenesis in vivo in an extraskeletal site. Based on its expression early in embryogenesis, the BMP encoded by this gene has a proposed role in early development. In addition, the fact that this BMP is closely related to BMP5 and BMP7 has lead to speculation of possible bone inductive activity.

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

Mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (c-MET) is a proto-oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase. The endogenous ligand for c-MET is HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), which is a disulfide-linked heterodimeric molecule produced predominantly by mesenchymal cells. In the adult, c-MET protein expression is limited to stem and progenitor cells and is required for wound healing and hepatocyte regeneration. In the embryo, c-MET receptors are expressed on cells of epithelial origin, which are vital for invasive growth and mediate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Abnormal activation of the HGF/MET pathway leads to a variety of cancers. c-MET mutation is linked with a poor prognosis since it can trigger tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis.

Exodus-2 protein or CCL21 is a cytokine, part of the CC chemokines subgroup. Because of its 6 conserved residues of the cysteine amino acid (instead of the 4 residues we usually see in chemokines), the protein is also named 6Ckine and SLC (secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine). The gene that codes for this protein is located on chromosome 9 in humans. The Exodus-2 is binding to the CCR7 receptor, which is a chemokine receptor located to the cell’s surface.

Alpha and Beta Defensins are cationic peptides with antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, fungi and enveloped viruses. These 2-6kDa proteins have vital roles in innate immune system. Mammalian Defensins are classified into alpha, beta and theta categories, based on their size and pattern of disulfide bonding. Beta-Defensins contain a six-cysteine motif which forms 3 intra-molecular disulfide bonds. Since beta-defensins are cationic peptides, they can therefore interact with the membrane of invading microbes, which are negative due to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) found in the cell membrane. In addition, they can affect the stability of the membrane.