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Treponema pallidum is a gram-negative spirochaete bacterium and is considered to be metabolically crippled. There are at least four known subspecies: T. pallidum pallidum, T. pallidum pertenue, T. pallidum carateum and T. pallidum endemicum. The helical structure of T. pallidum pallidum allows it to move in a corkscrew motion through viscous mediums such as mucus. Treponema pallidum sub sp. pallidum has one of the smallest bacterial genomes at 1.14 million base pairs (Mb) and has limited metabolic capabilities, reflecting its adaptation through genome reduction to the rich environment of mammalian tissue.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also called macrophage inflammatory protein 2-alpha (MIP2-alpha), Growth-regulated protein beta (Gro-beta) and Gro oncogene-2 (Gro-2). CXCL2 is 90% identical in amino acid sequence as a related chemokine, CXCL1. This chemokine is secreted by monocytes and macrophages and is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and hematopoietic stem cells. The gene for CXCL2 is located on human chromosome 4 in a cluster of other CXC chemokines. CXCL2 mobilizes cells by interacting with a cell surface chemokine receptor called CXCR2.

PCDHGL4 belongs to one of three related clusters tandemly linked on chromosome five - the protocadherin gamma gene cluster. These gene clusters have an immunoglobulin-like organization, which indicates that a novel mechanism takes part in their regulation and expression. These neural cadherin-like cell adhesion proteins have a vital role in the establishment and function of specific cell-cell connections in the brain.

Stratifin is part of the 14-3-3 family. The 14-3-3 family of proteins plays an important regulatory function in signal transduction, checkpoint control, apoptotic and nutrient-sensing pathways. 14-3-3 proteins are highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed. There are 7 isoforms, beta, gamma, epsilon, sigma, zeta, tau and eta that have been identified in mammals. Stratifin is an epithelial cell marker that functions as a tumor suppressor whose expression can be down regulated via methylation. Failure of Stratifin expression results in a defective G2/M phase checkpoint and results in epithelial and non-epithelial tumorigenesis.

BRISC And BRCA1 A Complex Member 1, also known as BABAM1, is a part of the BRCA1-A complex. The BRCA1-A complex identifies 'Lys-63'- linked ubiquitinated histones H2A and H2AX at DNA lesions sites and also holds deubiquitinase activity which removes in particular 'Lys-63'-linked ubiquitin on histones H2A and H2AX. BABAM1 is necessary to preserve the stability of BRE/BRCC45 and help the 'Lys-63'-linked deubiquitinase activity mediated by BRCC3/BRCC36 component.

S100A8 is a part of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 proteins are localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a broad range of cells, and participate in the regulation of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100A8 plays a role in the inhibition of casein kinase and as a cytokine. S100A8 altered expression is related with cystic fibrosis disease. S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein that has antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi.S100A8 is crucial for resistance towards invasion by pathogenic bacteria. S100A8 up-regulates transcription of genes that are under the control of NF-kappa-B. S100A8 plays a role in the development of endotoxic shock in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. S100A8 endorses tubulin polymerization and promotes phagocyte migration and infiltration of granulocytes at sites of wounding. S100A8 takes part as a pro-inflammatory mediator in acute and chronic inflammation and up-regulates the release of IL8 and cell-surface expression of ICAM1.

Prohibitin 2, also known as PHB2, mediates transcriptional repression by nuclear hormone receptors via recruitment of histone deacetylases by similarity. PHB2 functions as an estrogen receptor (ER)-selective coregulator which potentiates the inhibitory activities of antiestrogens and represses the activity of estrogens. PHB2 which is involved in regulating mitochondrial respiration activity and in aging, competes with NCOA1 for modulation of ER transcriptional activity.

DnaK, originally identified for its DNA replication by bacteriophage l in E. coli is the bacterial hsp70 chaperone. This protein is involved in the folding and assembly of newly synthesized polypeptide chains and in preventing the aggregation of stress-denatured proteins. Dnak(residues 508-638) of the substrate binding domain is a-helical and appears to act as a lid covering the substrate binding cleft. DnaK(amino acid 508-638) was purified to apparent homogeneity by using conventional column chromatography techniques. Additional amino acid (Met) is attached at N- terminus.

DBR1 is an RNA lariat debranching enzyme which hydrolyzes 2'-5' prime branched phosphodiester bonds. The encoded protein specifically targets the bonds at the branch point of eliminated lariat intron RNA, transforming them to linear molecules which are then degraded. Additionally, DBR1 takes part in retroviral replication.

MAPT is a neuronal microtubule associated protein localized mostly on axons.
MAPT promotes tubulin polymerisation and stabilizes microtubules, however it also serves to connect certain signalling pathways to the cytoskeleton. MAPT, in its hyperphosphorylated form, is the main part of paired helical filaments (PHF) and neurofibrillary lesions in Alzheimer''s disease (AD) brain.

CREB/ATF BZIP Transcription Factor, also known as CREBZF activates transcription strongly once bound to HCFC1. CREBZF suppresses the expression of HSV proteins in cells infected with the virus in a HCFC1-dependent manner. CREBZF suppresses the HCFC1-dependent transcriptional activation through CREB3 and reduces the quantity of CREB3 in the cell. In addition, CREBZF is capable to down-regulate expression of a few cellular genes in CREBZF-expressing cells.

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.

Babesiosis is a disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the Babesia genus. The Babesia microti life cycle involves 2 hosts, which include a rodent, mainly the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and a tick in the Ixodes genus. During a blood meal, a Babesia-infected tick introduces sporozoites into the mouse host. Sporozoites pass into the erythrocytes and undergo asexual reproduction (budding). In the blood, some parasites differentiate into male and female gametes, though these cannot be distinguished by light microscopy. The definitive host is the tick. Once ingested by an proper tick, gametes unite and undergo a sporogonic cycle resulting in sporozoites. Transovarial transmission (aka vertical or hereditary transmission) has been detected for "large" Babesia species but not for the "small" Babesia, such as B. microti. Humans enter the cycle when bitten by the infected ticks. Thus during a blood meal, a Babesia-infected tick introduces sporozoites into the human host. Sporozoites then enter erythrocytes and undergo asexual replication (budding). Multiplication of the blood-stage parasites is responsible for the clinical manifestations of the disease. Humans typically are dead-end hosts. However, human-to-human transmission is well acknowledged to occur via contaminated blood transfusions.

PSMA1 is a prosomal protein who takes part in a nonlysosomal ATP/ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway. PSMA1 is a multicatalytic proteinase complex that is characterized by its capacity to cleave peptides with Arg, Phe, Tyr, Leu, and Glu next to the leaving group at neutral or slightly basic pH. PSMA1 is vastly expressed in prostate epithelium.

The PARK7 is a ubiquitously expressed protein involved in various cellular processes including spermatogenesis and fertilization, cancer, RNA-binding, androgen-receptor signaling and oxidative stress. Mutations in the PARK7 are the cause of autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson’s disease 7 (Park7).

Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene, Isoform 2A (KRAS-2A) belongs to the small GTPase superfamily. The KRAS-2A protein is involved in a variety of malignancies, including lung adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenoma, ductal carcinoma of the pancreas and colorectal carcinoma. Ras family members impact cell growth and differentiation events in a subcellular membrane compartmentalization-based signaling system under normal conditions. Oncogenic Ras can deregulate processes which control both cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) is a member of the large FGF family which has at least 23 members. FGF18 is a heparin binding growth factor with a core 120 amino acid FGF domain which allows for a common tertiary structure. FGFs are expressed in the course of the embryonic development and in restricted adult tissues. FGF-18 is an indispensable regulator of long bone and calvarial development. FGF-18 signals via FGFR 1c, 2c, 3c, and 4.

Lipocalin-2 also called Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) belongs to a family of lipocans which include 25 proteins (including a1-microglobulin and b-lactoglobulin), which are characterized by their ability to bind small lipophilic substances in their hydrophobic core.
They thereby serve as transporters of substances like retinal, biliverdins & prostaglandins. There are indications that NGAL is involved in modulation of the inflammatory response and is found in the plasma of patients after stroke.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that was previously called GRO1 oncogene, Neutrophil-activating protein 3 (NAP-3) and melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha (MSGA-a). It is secreted by human melanoma cells, has mitogenic properties and is implicated in melanoma pathogenesis. CXCL1 is expressed by macrophages, neutrophils and epithelial cells, and has neutrophil chemoattractant activity. CXCL1 plays a role in spinal cord development by inhibiting the migration of oligodendrocyte precursors and is involved in the processes of angiogenesis, inflammation, wound healing, and tumorigenesis. This chemokine elicits its effects by signaling through the chemokine receptor CXCR2. The gene for CXCL1 is located on human chromosome 4 amongst genes for other CXC chemokines.

SAP18 is a component of the histone deacetylase complex which has a significant role in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. SAP18 directly interacts with SIN3 and enhances SIN3-mediated transcriptional repression once bound to the promoter. SAP18 plays an important part in gene-specific recruitment of the HDAC complex by a number of transcription factors including Gli, GAGA, and Bicoid. Histone acetylation is significant in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Histone acetylation and deacetylation is catalyzed by multisubunit complexes. SAP18 is a component of the histone deacetylase complex, which includes SIN3, SAP30, HDAC1, HDAC2, RbAp46, RbAp48, and other polypeptides. SAP18 is a component of a splicing-dependent multiprotein EJC (exon junction complex) placed at splice junction on mRNAs.

ASF1 Anti-Silencing Function 1 Homolog B (ASF1B) belongs to the H3/H4 family of histone chaperone proteins and is similar to the anti-silencing function-1 protein in yeast. ASF1B is the substrate of the tousled-like kinase family of cell cycle-regulated kinases, and may have a crucial role in modulating the nucleosome structure of chromatin by guaranteeing a regular supply of histones at sites of nucleosome assembly. ASF1B cooperates with CAF-1 (chromatin assembly factor 1) to stimulate replication-dependent chromatin assembly. ASF1B is highly expressed in the testis and at lower levels in colon, small intestine and thymus. ASF1B is necessary for spermatogenesis.

Streptavidin is a tetrameric protein secreted by Streptomyces avidinii which binds firmly to biotin. Streptavidin is widely used in molecular biology through its unique high affinity for the vitamin biotin. The dissociation constant (Kd) of the biotin-streptavidin complex is about ~10-15 mol/L. The strong affinity recognition of biotin and biotinylated molecules has made streptavidin one of the most important components in diagnostics and laboratory kits. The streptavidin/biotin system has one of the biggest free energies of association of yet observed for noncovalent binding of a protein and small ligand in aqueous solution (K_assoc = 10**14). The complexes are also extremely stable over a wide range of temperature and pH.

Proline-Serine-Threonine Phosphatase Interacting Protein 1 (PSTPIP1) which is a scaffold protein and a regulator of the actin cytoskeleton binds ABL1, PTPN18, WAS, CD2AP, and PTPN12. PSTPIP1 also binds to the cytoplasmic tail of CD2, an effector of T cell activation and adhesion, negatively affecting CD2-triggered T cell activation. Mutations in PSTPIP1 are a cause of PAPA syndrome.