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Stem cell factor / KIT ligand (SCF) is a cytokine which binds CD117(c-Kit). SCF is also known as "steel factor" or "c-kit ligand". SCF exists in two forms, cell surface bound SCF and soluble (or free) SCF. Soluble SCF is produced by the cleavage of surface bound SCF by metalloproteases. SCF is a growth factor important for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and other hematopoietic progenitor cells. One of its roles is to change the BFU-E (burst-forming unit-erythroid) cells, which are the earliest erythrocyte precursors in the erythrocytic series, into the CFU-E (colony-forming unit-erythroid).

DDB1-and CUL4-associated factor (DCAF7) is involved in craniofacial development. The DCAF7 protein acts upstream of the EDN1 pathway and is essential for formation of the upper jaw equivalent, the palatoquadrate. The activity necessary for the EDN1 pathway function varies between the first and second arches. DCAF7 associates with DIAPH1 and controls GLI1 transcriptional activity. DCAF7 may be involved in normal and diseased skin development.

HSF2BP, also known as HSF2 binding protein links with HSF2. This interaction takes place between the trimerization domain of HSF2 and the amino terminal hydrophilic region of HSF2BP which contains two leucine zipper motifs. Therefore, HSF2BP is involved in modulating HSF2 activation.

Heat Shock Transcription Factor, Y-Linked 1 (HSFY1) is a member of the heat shock factor (HSF) family of transcriptional activators for heat shock proteins. HSFY1 is localizes to an area of chromosome Y which is from time to time deleted in infertile males and therefore is considered a gene for azoospermia. The genome has 2 identical duplicates of HSFY1 within a palindromic area.

ARL3 (ARFL3) belongs to the ARF-like protein (ARL) subfamily of small GTPases. ARL3 does not activate the cholera toxin ADP-ribosyltranferase contrasting from ARFs. ARL3 is ubiquitously expressed. ARL3 may have a role in maintaining rod photoreceptor cells and regulating microtubule-dependent processes. ARL3 knockdown leads to altered cell morphology, failure of cytokinesis, acetylation of alpha tubulin and an increase in binucleated cells.

NFNB demonstrates the capability to reduce quinines. NFNB enzyme activates prodrugs in antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy. NFNB reduces nitrofurazone, quinones and anti-tumor agent CB1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide). The reduction of CB1954 results in the generation of cytotoxic species.

NSL1 holds two coiled-coil domains.NSL1 proteins, localized to kinetochores - chromosome associated structures which attach to microtubules and mediate chromosome movements throughout cell division. NSL1 is a fragment of a conserved protein complex that hold two chromodomain-containing proteins and a component of the outer plate of the kinetochore. NSL1 connect centromeric heterochromatin with the outer kinetochore structure. Several transcript variants are known to encod different isoforms for this gene.

BTF3L4 is a part of the NAC-beta family which contains 1 NAC-A/B (NAC-alpha/beta) domain and required for the initiation of transcription. BTF3L4 binds to polypeptide chains as they emerge from the ribosome and prevents their interaction with the SRP, which usually targets nascent secretory peptides to the ER. BTF3 is also a general transcription factor which forms a stable complex with RNA polymerase II.

Excess adiposity is the most important risk in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipose tissue produces several proteins (adipocytokines) such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-?, and IL-6, that modulate insulin sensitivity and appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms by which fat tissue induces insulin resistance and the role of adipocytokines in the pathogenesis of T2DM have not been well established. 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 insulin-mimetic effects that are dose-dependent and quantitatively similar to those of insulin in 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 insulin-mimetic effects, visfatin was as effective as insulin in reducing hyperglycemia in insulin-deficient diabetic mice. Visfatin was also found to be bound to and activate insulin receptor, causing receptor phosphorylation and the activation of downstream signaling molecules. However, visfatin and insulin did not compete for binding to the insulin 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.

Basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3), which is a member of the NAC-beta family, forms a stable complex with RNA polymerase II. The BTF3 protein is vital for the initiation of transcription.

JSRP1 takes part in excitation-contraction connection at the sarcoplasmic reticulum. JSRP1 is able to cooperate with CACNA1S, CACNB1 and calsequestrin to assist in regulating calcium influx and efflux in skeletal muscle.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a ligand molecule which induces apoptosis. It is a type II transmembrane protein with homology to other members of the tumor necrosis factor family.
In humans, the gene that encodes for TRAIL is located at chromosome 3q26.
TRAIL binds to the death receptors, DR4 and DR5. The process of apoptosis is caspase-8-dependent. This protein preferentially induces apoptosis in transformed and tumor cells, but does not appear to kill normal cells although it is expressed at a significant level in most normal tissues.

Regulator of G-protein signaling 14 (RGS14) is a member of the regulator of G protein signaling family. RGS14 contains one RGS domain, 2 Raf-like Ras-binding domains (RBDs) and one GoLoco motif. RGS14 reduces the signaling activity of G-proteins by binding, via its GoLoco domain, to specific types of activated, GTP-bound G alpha subunits. RGS14 is a scaffolding protein which integrates G protein and H-Ras/ERK/MAP kinase signaling pathways, thus making it suitably positioned to repress plasticity in CA2 neurons. Since RGS14 is highly enriched in CA2 pyramidal neurons, it has a role in inhibition of both synaptic plasticity at these synapses and hippocampal-based learning and memory.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF R) subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases comprises four members: EGF R (also known as HER1, ErbB1 or ErbB), ErbB2 (Neu, HER-2), ErbB3 (HER-3), and ErbB4 (HER-4). All family members are type I transmembrane glycoprotein that has an extracellular domain which contains two cysteine-rich domains separated by a spacer region that is involved in ligand-binding, and a cytoplasmic domain which has a membrane-proximal tyrosine kinase domain and a C-terminal tail with multiple tyrosine autophosphorylation sites. The human EGF R gene encodes a 1210 amino acid (aa) residue precursor with a 24 aa putative signal peptide, a 621 aa extracellular domain, a 23 aa transmembrane domain, and a 542 aa cytoplasmic domain. EGF R has been shown to bind a subset of the EGF family ligands, including EGF, amphiregulin, TGF-a , betacellulin, epiregulin, heparin-binding EGF and neuregulin-2 in the absence of a co-receptor. Ligand binding induces EGF R homodimerization as well as heterdimerization with ErbB2, resulting in kinase activation, tyrosine phosphorylation and cell signaling. EGF R can also be recruited to form heterodimers with the ligand-activated ErbB3 or ErbB4. EGF R signaling has been shown to regulate multiple biological functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, motility and apoptosis. In addition, EGF R signaling has also been shown to play a role in carcinogenesis.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a ligand molecule which induces apoptosis. It is a type II transmembrane protein with homology to other members of the tumor necrosis factor family.
In humans, the gene that encodes for TRAIL is located at chromosome 3q26. TRAIL binds to the death receptors, DR4 and DR5. The process of apoptosis is caspase-8-dependent. This protein preferentially induces apoptosis in transformed and tumor cells, but does not appear to kill normal cells although it is expressed at a significant level in most normal tissues.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes African swine fever (ASF), a disease of swine characterized by high morbidity and mortality. ASFV is a large DNA virus which belongs to Asfarviridae family. ASFV’s multilayered virion consists from up to 54 polypeptides while p30 is one of the early viral proteins. ASFV P30 is encoded by the CP204L gene and is one of the most antigenic structural proteinsi nvolved in ASFV entry.

The AsnRS enzyme is a member of the ligases family, specifically those forming carbon-oxygen bonds in aminoacyl-tRNA and related compounds. An asparagine-tRNA ligase is an enzyme which catalyzes the chemical reaction: ATP + L-asparagine + tRNAAsn AMP + diphosphate + L-asparaginyl-tRNAAsn. The three substrates of the AsnRS enzyme are ATP, L-asparagine, and tRNA(Asn), whereas its three products are AMP, diphosphate, and L-asparaginyl-tRNA(Asn).

ESM1, also knows as, Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 is a protein encoded by a gene called ESM1 in humans. ESM1 is a secreted protein that is highly expressed in human kidney and lung tissues (in the endothelial cells). There are suggestions regarding the protein’s involvement in endothelium-dependent pathological diseases, due to his regulation that is performed by cytokines.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

Transforming Growth Factor-Alpha (TGF-alpha) belongs to the EGF family of cytokines. TGFA soluble form is discharged from the membrane by proteolytic cleavage. Membrane-bound proTGF-alpha is biologically active and has a role in cell-cell adhesion or in the stimulation of adjacent cells. TGFA expression is common in transformed cells. Additionally, TGFA is expressed in normal tissues during embryogenesis and in adult cells/tissues, including the pituitary, keratinocytes, and macrophages.

Prorelaxin H2 (RLN2) is a member of the insulin gene superfamily. This 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 oxytocin and 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.

SARS Coronavirus is an enveloped virus containing 3 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 takes part in virus infection cycle and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies.

Transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFRC) is required for iron delivery from transferring to cells. The TFRC protein is a transmembrane glycoprotein comprised of 2 disulfide-linked monomers joined by 2 disulfide bonds. Each monomer will bind one holo-transferrin molecule producing an iron-Tf-TfR complex which enters the cell by endocytosis.

Human Retinol Binding Protein, also known as RBP, is responsible for transporting and binding vitamin A. Human RBP has a binding site for 1 molecule of retinol and circulates in the plasma together with prealbumin as a protein complex. The prealbumin binding prevents greater glomerular losses of the human RBP. Only the retinol-free form of the RBP, which has no affinity for prealbumin, undergoes glomerular filtration unhindered as a result of its low Mw. Human RBP is re-absorbed by the tubular cells and catabolized there.