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Transferrin is the iron-transport protein of vertebrate serum and donates iron to cells through interaction with a specific membrane receptor, CD71. Transferrin appears to be indispensable for most cells growing in tissue culture.
It is referred to frequently as a growth factor because, in analogy to other growth factor-receptor interactions, proliferating cells express high numbers of transferrin receptors, and the binding of transferrin to their receptors is needed for cells to initiate and maintain their DNA synthesis. Apart from its role as an iron transport protein transferrin acts as a cytokine and has functions that may not be related to its iron-carrying capacity.

CYP2E1, also known as Cytochrome P450 2E1 belongs to the cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidase system which is involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics in the body. While CYP2E1 is implicated in the oxidative metabolism of small range substrates, commonly small polar molecules, there are many significant drug interactions which are mediated by CYP2E1.

CMV belongs to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae which includes herpes simplex virustypes 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barrvirus. The herpesviruses share a characteristic ability to remain latentover long periods. CMV is a double-stranded linear DNA virus with 162 hexagonal protein capsomeres surrounded by a lipid membrane. CMV has the largest genome of the herpes viruses, ranging from 230-240 kilobase pairs. Human CMV is composed of unique and inverted repeats that include the existence of 4 genome isomers caused by inversion of L-S genome components (class E). Replication may be divided into immediate early, delayed early, and late gene expression based on time of synthesis after infection. The DNA is replicated by rolling circles. In vitro, CMV replicates in human fibroblasts.

The three isoenzymes (MM, MB, and BB) are found in muscle, cardiac and brain tissues. These recombinant proteins are ideal for calibrating diagnostic instruments and researching neuromuscular diseases. Creatine Kinases can be used for indications in many neuromuscular applications. These disorders include cardiac disease, mitochondrial disorders, inflammatory myopathies, myasthenia, polymyositis, McArdle''s disease, NMJ disorders, muscular dystrophy, ALS, hypo and hyperthyroid disorders, central core disease, acid maltase deficiency, myoglobinuria, rhabdomyolysis, motor neuron diseases, rheumatic diseases, and other that create elevated or reduced levels of Creatine Kinases.

C-Reactive Protein or CRP, is a protein, part of the pentraxin superfamily. Among the protein’s activities, CRP can promote agglutination, swelling of the bacteria capsule, phagocytosis etc. this protein can also cause complement fixation via a calcium-dependent binding to the molecule phosphorylcholine.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirusthat can lead to a condition in which the immune systembegins to fail, leading to opportunistic infections. HIV primarily infects vital cells in the humanimmune systemsuch as helper T cells(specifically CD4+ T cells), macrophagesand dendritic cells. HIV infection leads to low levels of CD4+ T cells through three main mechanisms: firstly, direct viral killing of infected cells; secondly, increased rates of apoptosisin infected cells; and thirdly, killing of infected CD4+ T cells by CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytesthat recognize infected cells. When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunityis lost, and the body becomes progressively more susceptible to opportunistic infections. HIV was classified as a member of the genus Lentivirus, part of the family of Retroviridae. Lentiviruses have many common morphologies and biological properties. Many species are infected by lentiviruses, which are characteristically responsible for long-duration illnesses with a long incubation period. Lentiviruses are transmitted as single-stranded, positive-sense, enveloped RNA viruses. Upon entry of the target cell, the viral RNA genomeis converted to double-stranded DNAby a virally encoded reverse transcriptasethat is present in the virus particle. This viral DNA is then integrated into the cellular DNA by a virally encoded integraseso that the genome can be transcribed. Once the virus has infected the cell, two pathways are possible: either the virus becomes latentand the infected cell continues to function, or the virus becomes active and replicates, and a large number of virus particles are liberated that can then infect other cells.

DHH is part of the Hedgehog family which encodes signaling molecules that are involved in regulating morphogenesis. DHH protein is a precursor that is autocatalytically cleaved, the N-terminal portion is soluble and contains the signalling activity while the C-terminal portion is involved in precursor processing. Additionally, the C-terminal product covalently attaches a cholesterol moiety to the N-terminal product, restricting the N-terminal product to the cell surface and preventing it from freely diffusing throughout the organism. Defects in DHH protein have been associated with partial gonadal dysgenesis (PGD) accompanied by minifascicular polyneuropathy. DHH plays a role both male gonadal differentiation and perineurial development.
DHH plays a role in intercellular signaling which is essential for a variety of patterning events during development. DHH functions as a spermatocyte survival factor in the testes & is essential for testes development.

CDC34 takes part in the control of cell cycle and DNA replication. Cdc34 in association with different E3 complexes, including SCF, targets many different substrates for ubiquitination and degradation during cell division, signal transduction, and development. Cdc34 substrates that have been characterized include B-Myb, Wee1, MyoD, ATF5, p27Xic1, and p27Kip1. Additionally, substrates such as p21Cip1, E2F, cyclin E, and cyclin D are putative substrates of Cdc34 by virtue of their SCF requirement for proteolysis. Cdc34 is self-associate through a domain in the C-terminus, and is phosphorylated and ubiquitinylated in vivo. CDC34is useful for in vitro ubiquitinylation reactions.

SARS Coronavirus is an enveloped virus containing three outer structural proteins, namely the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins. Spike (S)-glycoprotein of the virus interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to allow viral entry into susceptible target cells. Accordingly, S-protein plays an important role in virus infection cycle and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies.
It has recently been shown that SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is caused by a human coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are the major cause of upper respiratory tract illness, such as the common cold, in humans. Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses, featuring the largest viral RNA genomes known to date (27-31 kb). The first step in coronavirus infection is binding of the viral spike protein, a 139-kDa protein, to certain receptors on host cells. The spike protein is the main surface antigen of the coronavirus. The glycosilated spike protein (as well as the nucleocapsid protein) can be detected in infected cell culture supernatants with antisera from SARS patients.

CD2 which is also known as E-rosette receptor, T11 and lymphocytefunction antigen-2 (LFA-2) is expressed on T cells, thymocytes, and subset of natural killer cells. Human CD2 functions as the receptor for sheep erythrocytes, human CD58 (LFA-3), and CD15s (Sialyl Lewis X). p56lck, p59fyn, CD3eta and CD3epsilon are tyrosine-phosphorylated after CD2 stimulation. CD2 plays a role in T cell activation, T- or NK-cell-mediated cytolysis, apoptosis in activated peripheral T cells, and regulation of T cell anergy.

Protein Interacting with PRKCA 1, also known as PICK1 includes a PDZ domain, through which it interacts with protein kinase C, alpha (PRKCA). PICK1 performs as an adaptor which binds to and arranges the subcellular localization of various membrane proteins. PICK1 interacts with multiple glutamate receptor subtypes, monoamine plasma membrane transporters, in addition to non-voltage gated sodium channels, and might target PRKCA to these membrane proteins and therefore regulates their distribution as well as function. PICK1 has also been found to perform as an anchoring protein which particularly targets PRKCA to mitochondria in a ligand-specific manner.

CXCL14 is involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. BRAK protein is structurally related to the CXC (Cys-X-Cys) subfamily of cytokines. CXCL14 displays chemotactic activity for monocytes but not for lymphocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils or macrophages. CXCL14 is involved in the homeostasis of monocyte-derived macrophages.

CCL28 is part of the subfamily of small cytokine CC genes. CCL28 shows chemotactic activity for resting CD4 or CD8 T cells and eosinophils. CCL28 binds to chemokine receptors CCR3 and CCR10. CCL28 is involved in the physiology of extracutaneous epithelial tissues, including diverse mucosal organs. CCL28 mediates mucosal immunity in HIV exposure and infection. CCL28 is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases.
Human CCL28 cDNA encodes a 127 amino acid residue precursor protein with a putative 22 amino acid residue signal peptide that is cleaved to produce the 105 amino acid residue mature protein. Human and mouse CCL28 are highly conserved, sharing 83% amino acid identity in their mature regions. CCL28 shares the most homology with CCL27/CTACK. Human and mouse CCL28 RNA expression was found to be highest in normal and pathologic colon with the protein being expressed by epithelial cells. Human CCL28 RNA was also present in normal and asthmatic lung tissues.

Procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer 1, also known as PCOLCE binds to the C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen and enhances procollagen C-proteinase activity. In addition, C-terminal processed part of PCPE (CT-PCPE) has a metalloproteinase inhibitory activity. Among the diseases which are associated with PCOLCE: bone fracture & oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

MCP-5 (CCL12) is a cloned mouse CC chemokine most closely related to human MCP1 (66% amino acid sequence identity in the mature protein). MCP5 is expressed constitutively in the thymus and the lymph nodes. Under inflammatory conditions, moreover CCL12 expression is induced in activated macrophages and mast cells. The mouse MCP1 gene is mapped to the CC chemokine cluster on chromosome 11. Recombinant CCL12 is a potent chemoattractant for monocytes and lymphocytes but not neutrophils. At high concentrations, MCP-5 also chemoattracts eosinophils. CCL12 is a functional ligand for CCR2.

CD2 which is also known as E-rosette receptor, T11 and lymphocytefunction antigen-2 (LFA-2) is expressed on T cells, thymocytes, and subset of natural killer cells. Human CD2 functions as the receptor for sheep erythrocytes, human CD58 (LFA-3), and CD15s (Sialyl Lewis X). p56lck, p59fyn, CD3eta and CD3epsilon are tyrosine-phosphorylated after CD2 stimulation. CD2 plays a role in T cell activation, T- or NK-cell-mediated cytolysis, apoptosis in activated peripheral T cells, and regulation of T cell anergy.

CFI cleaves and inactivates C3b and C4b. CFI is inactive without a cofactor such as the soluble factor H and C4b binding protein. CFI cleaves the alpha-peptide chain of C3b and C4b when these binds1 of the cofactors. This cleavage inactivates all of the complement activating functions of these proteins producing iC3b and iC4b.CFI cleaves the alpha chain of C3b twice and this releases a small fragment called C3f. CFI can cleave iC3b releasing C3c from C3dg in the presence of CR1.C4b is cleaved rapidly at 2 sites separating C4c from C4d.

CMV belongs to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae which includes herpes simplex virustypes 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barrvirus. The herpesviruses share a characteristic ability to remain latentover long periods. CMV is a double-stranded linear DNA virus with 162 hexagonal protein capsomeres surrounded by a lipid membrane. CMV has the largest genome of the herpes viruses, ranging from 230-240 kilobase pairs. Human CMV is composed of unique and inverted repeats that include the existence of 4 genome isomers caused by inversion of L-S genome components (class E). Replication may be divided into immediate early, delayed early, and late gene expression based on time of synthesis after infection. The DNA is replicated by rolling circles. In vitro, CMV replicates in human fibroblasts.

Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and is a member of a group of cytokines that all stimulate the acute phase reaction. TNF is mainly secreted by macrophages.
TNF causes apoptotic cell death, cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumorigenesis and viral replication, TNF is also involved in lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF's primary role is in the regulation of immune cells.
Dysregulation and, in particular, overproduction of TNF have been implicated in a variety of human diseases- autoimmune diseases, INS resistance, and cancer.

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.

SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor-1) is small cytokine belonging to the chemokine family that is officially designated Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12). It is produced in two forms, SDF-1?/CXCL12a and SDF-1?/CXCL12b, by alternate splicing of the same gene. Chemokines are characterized by the presence of four conserved cysteines, which form two disulfide bonds. The CXCL12 proteins belong to the group of CXC chemokines, whose initial pair of cysteines are separated by one intervening amino acid. CXCL12 is strongly chemotactic for lymphocytes and has been implicated as an important cell co-ordinator during development. During embryogenesis it directs the migration of hematopoietic cells from foetal liver to bone marrow. Mice which were knocked-out for CXCL12 gene were lethal before the birth or within just 1 hour of life. As another role, CXCL12a alters also the electrophysiology of neurons. CXCL12 was shown to be expressend in many tissues in mice (including brain, thymus, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and bone marrow).
The receptor for this chemokine is CXCR4, which was previously called fusin. This CXCL12-CXCR4 interaction used to be considered exclusive (unlike for other chemokines and their receptors), but recently it was suggested that CXCL12 is also bound by CXCR7 receptor. The gene for CXCL12 is located on human chromosome 10. In human and mouse both CXCL12 and CXCR4 show high identity of sequence: 99% and 90%, respectively.

Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme E2Z, also known as UBE2z, is a protein coding gene which is a part of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family. UBE2z catalyzes the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to various proteins. UBE2z takes part in in apoptosis regulation and is also a specific substrate for UBA6, not charged with ubiquitin by UBE1.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 8 (TNFRSF8) is a receptor for TNFSF8/CD30L. TNFRSF8 has a role in the regulation of cellular growth and transformation of activated lymphoblasts. In addition, the TNFRSF8 protein regulates gene expression via activation of NF-kappa-B. TNFRSF8 being a regulator of apoptosis, induces cell death or proliferation, depending on the cell type.