Search results

Anthrax PA (Protective Antigen) and Anthrax LF (Lethal Factor), along with Anthrax EF (Edema Factor), are toxins produced by Bacillus anthracis. All three of the proteins must be present for toxicity to occur. It begins with the binding of PA to its cell-surface receptor, ATR (Anthrax Toxin Receptor), at which point PA is cleaved and the resulting 63 kD carboxyl-terminal fragment binds to LF and EF. LF is a protease that is known to cleave members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) family(2).

CBR1 is one of numerous monomeric, NADPH-dependent oxidoreductases having ubiquistly specificity for carbonyl compounds. CBR1 is broadly distributed in human tissues. CBR1 metabolizes toxic environmental quinones and pharmacological relevant substrates such as the anticancer doxorubicin. CBR1 converts prostaglandin E2 to prostaglandin F2-alpha.

CD5 is a suitable immunohistochemical marker for T-cells, though not as sensitive as CD3. Approximately 76% of T-cell neoplasms are reported to express CD5, and it is also observed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, and mantle cell lymphoma cells. CD5 is commonly lost in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and its deficiency can be used as an indicator of malignancy in this condition. CD5’s absence in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, though relatively rare, is linked with a poor prognosis. CD5 serves as a receptor in regulating T-cell proliferation.

NANS is a 359 amino acid protein that contains one AFP (antifreeze proteins)-like domain and functions in the biosynthesis of sialic acids. The ubiquitously expressed NANS enzymatically catalyzes the H2O-dependent formation of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nononic acid (KDN), both of which are sialic acids. NANS uses N-acetylmannosamine 6-phosphate as a substrate for Neu5Ac synthesis and mannose 6-phosphate as a substrate for KDN synthesis.

KAT2A (GCN5L2 or GCN5) is a histone acetyltransferase (HAT), which functions mainly as a transcriptional activator. GCN5L2 may be one of the enzymes involved in acetylation in vivo. GCN5 is expressed primarily in the embryo and newborn and is crucial for normal embryonic development. Hence, KAT2A appears to be significant for differentiation of embryonic-derived preadipocytes. GCN5 also functions as a repressor of NF-kappa-B by promoting ubiquitination of the NF-kappa-B subunit RELA in a HAT-independent manner. Loss of GCN5L2 leads to a high occurrence of apoptosis in the KAT2A mutants, which begins before the onset of morphological abnormality.

Tubulin, beta 3 class III (TUBB3), which is the major constituent of microtubules, is primarily Expressed in neurons and is involved in neurogenesis and in axon guidance and maintenance. TUBB3 binds two moles of GTP, one at an exchangeable site on the beta chain and one at a non-exchangeable site on the alpha-chain.

PPM1G is part of the PP2C family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases which are known to be negative regulators of cell stress response pathways. PPM1G is accountable for the dephosphorylation of Pre-mRNA splicing factors, an important factor for the formation of functional spliceosome. PPM1G regulates cell cycle progression. PPM1G mediates histone dephosphorylation/exchange in response to DNA damage or checkpoint recovery in higher eukaryotes. The degradation of p21/WAF1 induced by PPM1G is mediated in a proteasome-dependent manner. Protein phosphatase 1G regulates assembly and function of the beta-catenin degradation complex.

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein FABP4 is a 15 kDa member of the intracellular fatty acid binding protein (FABP) family, which is known for the ability to bind fatty acids and related compounds (bile acids or retinoids) in an internal cavity. FABP4 is expressed in a differentiation-dependent fashion in adipocytes and is a critical gene in the regulation of the biological function of these cells. In mice, targeted mutations in FABP4 provide significant protection from hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in the context of both dietary and genetic obesity. Adipocytes obtained from FABP4-deficient mice also have reduced efficiency of ipolysis in vitro and in vivo, and these mice exhibited moderately improved systemic dyslipidemia. Recent studies also demonstrated FABP4 expression in macrophages upon differentiation and activation. In these cells, FABP4 modulates inflammatory responses and cholesterol ester accumulation, and total or macrophage-specific FABP4 deficiency confers dram

Cathepsin H is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase important in the overall degradation of lysosomal proteins. Cathepsin H is composed of a dimer of disulfide-linked heavy and light chains, both produced from a single protein precursor. Cathepsin H, which belongs to the peptidase C1 protein family, can act both as an aminopeptidase and as an endopeptidase. Increased expression of the Cathepsin H gene has been associated with malignant progression of prostate tumors.

CTLA-4 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and encodes a protein which transmits an inhibitory signal to T cells. The protein contains a V domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized. The membrane-bound isoform functions as a homodimer interconnected by a disulfide bond, while the soluble isoform functions as a monomer. Mutations in this gene have been associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Graves disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid-associated orbitopathy, and other autoimmune diseases.

Neuroblastoma suppressor of tumorigenicity 1 (NBL1) is a part of the evolutionarily conserved CAN (Cerberus and DAN) family of proteins, which contain a domain resembling the CTCK (C-terminal cystine knot-like) motif found in several signaling molecules. NBL1 is a is a tumor suppressor of neuroblastoma and takes part in preventing cells from entering the final stage (G1/S) of the transformation process. NBL1 is produced in small neurons of the dorsal root ganglion. The expression of NBL1 is triggered by MATH-1.

6PGD is the second dehydrogenase in the pentose phosphate shunt. Pentose is neccesary for nucleic acid biosynthesis. The pentose phosphate cycle is a major source of NADPH 6PGD deficiency is usually asymptomatic, and the inheritance of this disorder is autosomal dominant. PGD deficiency raises the erythrocyte pyruvate kinase levels of activity and decreases glutathione synthetase, resulting in hemolysis.

CD22, also known as Sialic Acid-Binding Ig-Like Lectin 2, is part of the immunoglobulin(Ig)superfamily. CD22 mediates B-cell to B-cell interactions and is implicated in the localization of B-cells in lymphoid tissues. CD22 acts as positive regulator via interaction with the Src family tyrosine kinases, in addition CD22 preform as an inhibitory receptor by recruiting cytoplasmic phosphatases.

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein family which is part of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. The superfamily includes large families of growth and differentiation factors. Bone morphogenetic proteins were originally identified by an ability of demineralized bone extract to induce endochondral osteogenesis in vivo in an extraskeletal site. This particular family member plays an important role in the onset of endochondral bone formation in humans, and a reduction in expression has been associated with a variety of bone diseases, including the heritable disorder Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. Alternative splicing in the 5' untranslated region of this gene has been described and three variants are described, all encoding an identical protein.

CNDP Dipeptidase 2 (CNDP2), is a cytosolic, non-specific dipeptidase which is a part of the peptidase M20A protein family. CNDP2 is a secreted peptidase homologous to M20 peptidases. CNDP2 expresses through all adult and fetal tissue, though, an isoform missing exons 3 and 4 expresses in all fetal tissue in adult liver. Over expression of CPGL-B in hepatocellular carcinoma cells results in significant inhibition of HC cell viability, colony formation, cell invasiveness and tumor configuration.

Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) is a part of the GPI family whose members encode multifunctional phosphoglucose isomerase proteins involved in energy pathways. GPI is a dimeric enzyme which catalyzes the reversible isomerization of glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate. Mammalian GPI also functions as a tumor-secreted cytokine and an angiogenic factor (AMF) which stimulates endothelial cell motility. In addition, GPI is a neurotrophic factor (Neuroleukin) for spinal and sensory neurons. GPI performs in different capacities inside and outside the cell. In the cytoplasm, GPI is involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, while outside the cell it acts as a neurotrophic factor for spinal and sensory neurons.
Defects in the GPI gene cause the nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia and a severe enzyme deficiency can be linked to hydrops fetalis, immediate neonatal death and neurological impairment.

Active IL-12 is a p70 disulphide-linked dimer composed of p35 and p40 subunits. The protein is a pleiotropic cytokine produced primarily by antigen presenting cells and has multiple effects on T lymphocytes and natural killer cells in terms of stimulating cytotoxicity, proliferation, production of other cytokines and Th1 subset differentiation.

NCS1 is part of the neuronal calcium sensor gene family, which encode calcium-binding proteins expressed primarily in neurons. NCS1 regulates G protein-coupled receptor phosphorylation in a calcium-dependent manner and can substitute for calmodulin. NCS1 is related with secretory granules and modulates synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. NCS1 regulates GRK1 and substitutes for calmodulin. NCS1 stimulates PI4KB kinase activity and participates in long-term synaptic plasticity through its interaction with PICK1. NCS1 takes part in neuron differentiation through inhibition of the activity of N-type voltage-gated calcium channel.

HC Class II is consists of 2 membrane spanning proteins. Each of these proteins is roughly 30 kDa, and has of two Globular domains, Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1 and Beta-2. The two regions farthest away from the membrane are alpha-1 and beta-1. The two proteins link without Covalent Bonds. The MHC Class II protein mainly presents peptides, which have been digested from external sources. MHC Class II is normally only expressed by Antigen Presenting Cells (APC) which digest foreign protein. Within the RER the alpha and beta proteins of the molecule, associate with each other, while a third protein called the "invariant chain," is necessary for stabilizing the complex, without it, they will not associate. The MHC-invariant complex is then passed from the RER, into and out of, the Golgi body. It fuses with an Endocytic compartment, where an external protein has been sampled and degraded.

CD58 is part of the immunoglobulin superfamily. CD58 is a ligand of the T lymphocyte CD2 protein, and is invloved in adhesion and activation of T lymphocytes. CD58 is localized to the plasma membrane.

IL2 is a secreted cytokine that is important for the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. The receptor of this cytokine is a heterotrimeric protein complex whose gamma chain is also shared by interleukin 4 (IL4) and interleukin 7 (IL7). The expression of this gene in mature thymocytes is monoallelic, which represents an unusual regulatory mode for controlling the precise expression of a single gene. The targeted disruption of a similar gene in mice leads to ulcerative colitis-like disease, which suggests an essential role of this gene in the immune response to antigenic stimuli.

RAB5A is a member of RAS oncogene family. The small GTPase, RAB5A is a crucial regulatory component of the endocytic pathway. Activation of RAB5A is mediated by GDP-GTP exchange factors (GEFs) that generate the Rab5-GTP complex). RAB5A is required for the fusion of plasma membranes and early endosomes.