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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).

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) are proteins that bind to and inhibit the activity of CDKs. Two major classes of CDK inhibitors have been identified. The p16 family (p15, p16, p18 and p19) binds to and inhibits the activities of CDK4 and CDK6. The p21 family (p21, p27, p28 and p57) can bind to broad range of CDK-cyclin complexes and inhibit their activities. CDKIs are capable of suppressing growth, and several lines of evidence strongly suggest that at least some CDKIs may be tumor suppressor proteins.

PA2G4 belongs to the peptidase M24C family and functions as an RNA-binding protein involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation processes. PA2G4 is a component of pre-ribosomal ribonucleoprotein complexes, participating in ribosome assembly and regulating the later steps of rRNA processing. Also, PA2G4 interacts with ErbB-3 and may function as a modulator of the ErbB-3 mediated signal transduction pathway by regulating the effects of Neuregulin-1. Furthermore, PA2G4 is a transcriptional co-repressor of androgen receptor-regulated genes and other cell cycle regulatory genes through its interactions with histone deacetylases. PA2G4 is implicated in growth inhibition and the induction of differentiation of human cancer cells. In addition, PA2G4 mediates cap-independent translation of specific viral IRESs (internal ribosomal entry site). PA2G4 associates with 28S, 18S and 5.8S mature rRNAs, several rRNA precursors and probably U3 small nucleolar RNA.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. This chemokine is also known as 6Ckine (because it has six conserved cysteine residues instead of the four cysteines typical to chemokines), exodus-2, and secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine (SLC). CCL21 is expressed predominantly in the lymph nodes and, in contrast to other CC chemokines, is chemotactic for lymphocytes. The gene for CCL21 is located on human chromosome 9. CCL21 elicits its effects by binding to a cell surface chemokine receptor known as CCR7.

PDCL3 belongs to the phosducin-like protein family which its members are known to bind to the beta-gamma subunits of G proteins. PDCL3 is a potential regulator of heterotrimeric G proteins and has a large amino acid sequence homology with phosducin.

TBCA is a tubulin-folding protein which is involved in the early step of the tubulin folding pathway. TBCA is one of four proteins (cofactors A, D, E, and C) implicated in the pathway directing to properly folded beta-tubulin from folding intermediates. Cofactors A and D are thought to be a factor in capturing and stabilizing beta-tubulin in a quasi-native confirmation. TBCA is crucial for cell viability, if reduced it causes a decrease in the amount of soluble tubulin, alterations in microtubules and G1 cell cycle arrest. Cofactor E attaches to the cofactor D-tubulin complex, afterward, interaction with cofactor C triggers the release of tubulin polypeptides that are committed to the native state.

FSCN1 is an actin-bundling protein that is responsible for rigidity to filopodial bundles to efficiently push the membrane forward during cytoskeleton remodeling and cell migration. FSCN1 takes part in the gathering of actin filament bundles present in microspikes, membrane ruffles, and stress fibers. FSCN1 is absent from most normal epithelia though is upregulated in multiple forms of human carcinoma, where its expression associates clinically with a poor prognosis. FSCN1 expression is abundantly found in neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells.

Geminin is a 25 kDa nuclear protein, which inhibits DNA replication and is degraded during the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. Geminin controls replication by binding to the licensing factor Cdt1, and is involved in neural differentiation. In addition, Geminin directly interacts with Six3 and Hox homeodomain proteins during embryogenesis and inhibits their functions. Geminin can also promote DNA replication. Geminin has 2 roles in 2 different stages of the cell cycle: Geminin is a negative regulator of DNA replication during the “S phase” of the cell cycle. Inhibition of Geminin during the “S phase” (by RNAi) results in an additional round of replication of portions of the genome. During the “M phase” of the cell cycle (mitosis) Geminin stabilizes the replication factor Cdt1 promoting DNA replication during the next cell cycle. Moreover, inhibition of Geminin during mitosis (by RNAi) causes destabilization of Cdt1 protein and impairment of DNA replication during the next cell cycle. Geminin thus guarantees that only one round of replication occurs during each cell cycle. It was discovered that Geminin is overexpressed in a number of malignancies and cancer cell lines. This maintains the concept that Geminin has also a positive role in DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Geminin accumulates through S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle but is absent during the G1 phase. During the metaphase/anaphase transition of mitosis Geminin levels decrease.

The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with an extremely organized ring-shaped 20S core structure. The core structure consists of 4 rings of 28 non-identical subunits; 2 rings consist of 7 alpha subunits and 2 rings consist of 7 beta subunits. Proteasomes are spread all over the eukaryotic cells in large quantities and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent procedure in a non-lysosomal pathway. A vital role of a modified proteasome, the immunoproteasome, is the handling of class I MHC peptides.

Carboxymethylenebutenolidase homolog (CMBL) is a cysteine hydrolase of the dienelactone hydrolase family which is highly expressed in the liver cytosol. CMBL is the human homolog of Pseudomonas dienelactone hydrolase, which is a protein that participates in the bacterial halocatechol degradation pathway. CMBL which preferentially cleaves cyclic esters activates medoxomil-ester prodrugs in which the medoxomil moiety is coupled with an oxygen atom. CMBL is inhibited by PCMB (p-chloromercuribenzoate) and is encoded by a gene which maps to human chromosome 5p15.2. CMBL can also activate beta-lactam antibiotics faropenem medoxomil and lenampicillin. CMBL is widely expressed, with the highest levels in the liver, followed by the kidney, small intestine and the colon.

VAPB Vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)-associated protein B (aka VAPB) is a type IV transmembrane protein and belongs to the VAP family of proteins. VAPB may have a role in vesicle trafficking. VAPB is found in plasma and intracellular vesicle membranes as a homodimer and heterodimer with VAPA, and interacts with VAMP1 and VAMP2. VAPB defects are the basis for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 8 and spinal muscular atrophy autosomal dominant Finkel type.

MAP3K12 Binding Inhibitory Protein 1 (MBIP) is a part of the ATAC complex which consists of histones H3 and H4 with a histone acetyltransferase activity. MBIP inhibits the MAP3K12 activity in order to induce the activation of the JNK/SAPK pathway.

Excess adiposity is the most important risk in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipose tissue produces several proteins (adipocytokines) such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-a, and IL-6, that modulate sensitivity and appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and was originally isolated as a secreted factor that synergizes with IL-7 and stem cell factors to promote the growth of B cell precursors. Visfatin homologs have been identified in carp, invertebrate mollusks, and bacteria, as well as in vertebrates, including humans and the mouse. It has been postulated to play a role in innate immunity.
Visfatin exerts mimetic effects that are dose-dependent and quantitatively similar to stimulating muscle and adipocyte glucose transport, and in inhibiting hepatocyte glucose production. Intravenous injection of recombinant visfatin in mice decreased plasma glucose in a dose-dependent fashion. In keeping with its mimetic effects, visfatin was as effective in reducing hyperglycemia in deficient diabetic mice. Visfatin was also found to be bound to and activate receptor, causing receptor phosphorylation and the activation of downstream signaling molecules. However, visfatin did not compete for binding to the receptor, indicating that the two proteins were recognized by different regions of the receptor. Thus, visfatin might play a role in glucose homeostasis and dysregulation in biosynthesis or signal transduction, and might contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes.

RAC3 belongs to the Rac subfamily of the Rho small G proteins. RAC3 is a small (approximately 21kDa) monomeric GTP-binding protein, which is an important component of intracellular signaling pathway, including the control of cell growth, cytoskeletal reorganization, and the activation of protein kinases.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2 (Serpine2) which inhibits thrombin, plasmin and plasminogen activators is a part of the Serpin superfamily of the serine protease inhibitors. Serpine2 is able to transform human embryonic kidney cells into neuron-like cells. Furthermore, Serpine2's over expression in mice leads to progressive neuronal and motor dysfunction.

IL11 is a member of the gp130 family of cytokines. These cytokines drive the assembly of multisubunit receptor complexes, all of which contain at least one molecule of the transmembrane signaling receptor IL6ST (gp130). IL-11 is shown to stimulate the T-cell-dependent development of immunoglobulin-producing B cells. It is also found to support the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocyte progenitor cells.

XCL1 is a small cytokine belonging to the XC chemokine family that is also known as lymphotactin. It is located in high levels in spleen, thymus, intestine and peripheral blood leukocytes, and at lower levels in lung, prostate gland and ovary. Cellular sources for XCL1 include activated thymic and peripheral blood CD8+ T cells. This chemokine attracts T cells. In humans, XCL1 is closely related to another chemokine called XCL2, whose gene is found at the same locus on chromosome 1. XCL1 induces it chemotactic function by binding to a chemokine receptor called XCR1.

TBE is caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of the family Flaviviridae.
A closely related virus in Far Eastern Eurasia, Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus (RSSEV).
The family Flaviviridae includes other tick-borne viruses are closely related to TBEV and RSSEV, such as Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus & Kyasanur Forest virus.
Louping ill virus is also a member of this family.

GDNF promotes the survival and differentiation of 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 neurons and increases their high-affinity uptake.

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.

Midkine (MK) is the product of a retinoic acid responsive gene. It contains 121 amino acid residues including 10 conserved cysteine residues, all of which appear to be disulphide linked.
Midkine is expressed during embryogenesis, showing an expression pattern that suggests functions in neurogenesis, cell migration, secondary organogenetic induction, and mesoderm-epithelial interaction.
The widespread downregulation of MK in the adult human is reverted in a number of cancers, in which polypeptides are able to act as both transforming growth factors and promoters of angiogenesis.
Midkine (MK), induces chemotaxis of human neutrophils and was found to trigger mobilization of intracellular calcium of these cells.
Midkine induces histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells with a rapid response in a dose dependent manner.
Midkine is also a potent stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

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.