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A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

Defensins form a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides made by neutrophils. Members of the defensin family are highly similar in protein sequence. This gene encodes defensin, beta 103A, which has broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and may play an important role in innate epithelial defense.

Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A/B (HNRNPAB) is a member of the subfamily of ubiquitously expressed heterogeneous nuclearribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). The hnRNPs are produced by RNA polymerase II and are components of theheterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) complexes. They are linked with pre-mRNAs in the nucleus and seem to influence pre-mRNA processing and further aspects of mRNA metabolism and transport. Whereas all of the hnRNPsare present in the nucleus, some seem to shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The hnRNP proteins have distinct nucleic acid binding properties. HNRNPAB, which binds to one of the components of the multiproteineditosome complex, has two repeats of quasi-RRM (RNA recognition motif) domains that bind to RNAs. Among the diseases associated with HNRNPAB are wells syndrome, and cystic fibrosis.

TGF-beta receptor-associated protein 1 also known as TGFBRAP1 takes part in the TGF-beta/activin signaling pathway. TGFBRAP1 is related with inactive heteromeric TGF-beta and activin receptor complexes, mainly through the type II receptor, and is released upon activation of signaling. TGFBRAP1recruits SMAD4 to the vicinity of the receptor complex and smoothes the progress of its interaction with receptor-regulated Smads, such as SMAD2.

Centromere proteins are a group of proteins which form and/or mediate the function of centromeres, the central structures of chromosomes to which spindle fibers/microtubuli attach and pull the chromosomes apart in cell division. Currently, 9 centromere proteins are known and designated CENPA to CENP-I. Most of the centromere proteins are targets of autoantibodies, the anti-centromere antibodies.
CENPB is the most important of the centromeric autoantigens: it has a molecular weight of approx. 66 kDa and plays an important role in the formation of the centromeric chromatin. CENPB antibodies are present in the sera of up to 80% of patients with CREST syndrome.

Leukocyte Immunoglobulin Like Receptor B2 (LILRB2) is a member of the leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LIR) family. LILRB2is expressed on immune cells where it binds to MHC class I molecules on antigen-presenting cells and transduces a negative signal that inhibits stimulation of an immune response.LILRB2controls inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity to help focus the immune response and limit autoreactivity.LILRB2competes with CD8 alpha for MHC I binding. LILRB2binds to classical MHC I proteins as well as the non-classical HLA-G1 and HLA-F molecules.

PSMB1 is part of the proteasome B-type family, also identified as the T1B family, that is a 20S core beta subunit. PSMB1 is tightly linked to the TBP (TATA-binding protein) gene in human and in mouse, and is transcribed in the opposite orientation in both species.The main function of PSMB1 is its degradation activity of unnecessary or damaged proteins by proteolysis. PSMB1 is a multicatalytic proteinase complex which is characterized by its ability to cleave peptides with arg, phe, tyr, leu, and glu adjacent to the leaving group at neutral or slightly basic ph. the proteasome has an atp-dependent proteolytic activity.

PEDF is a neurotrophic protein that induces extensive neuronal differentiation in retinoblastoma cells. SerpinF1 is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. EPC1 doesn’t undergo the stressed to relaxed conformation transition characteristic as of the active serpins since it exhibits no serine protease inhibitory activity.
Aqueous humour level of asymmetric dimethylarginine is correlated with PEDF in humans. ADMA and PEDF levels are increased in response to inflammation in uveitis.
Lack of PEDF expression is a potent factor for the enhancement of tumor growth and angiogenesis in breast cancer.
PEDF & VEGF genes contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy.
PEDF and VEGF structural changes in blood vessel wall play an important role in the pathophysiology of PD patients.
PEDF-overexpressing tumors exhibited reduced intratumoral angiogenesis.
SerpinF1 is a new promising approach for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Levels of the natural ocular anti-angiogenic factor SentrinF1 (PEDF) is associated with proliferative retinopathy.
VEGF secreted by retinal pigment epithelial cells upregulates PEDF expression via VEGFR-1 in an autocrine manner.
Sentrin-F1 concentration in the aqueous humor of diabetic patients predicts who will develop progression of retinopathy.
PEDF blocks angiogenic effects of leptin through its anti-oxidative properties.

Melan-A (MLANA), is engaged in melanosome biogenesis by ensuring the stability of GPR143. MLANA takes part in the expression, stability, trafficking, and processing of melanocyte protein PMEL, which is essential to the formation of stage II melanosomes.

Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) consist of a small 28S subunit and a large 39S subunit. Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein S28, also known as MRPS28, is a protein coding gene which encodes a 28S subunit protein which is known as mitochondrial ribosomal protein S35.

b-synuclein (amino acids 1-134), an acidic neuronal protein of 134 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant. b-synucelin also has a chaperone-like activity. Recently, b-synuclein has been suggested to inhibit a-synuclein aggregation. b and a-synuclein are abundantly expressed in the brain and putatively inhibit phospholipase D2 selectively. The encoded protein, which may play a role in neuronal plasticity, is abundant in neurofibrillary lesions of patients with Alzheimer disease.

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.

Tachykinin-1 (TAC1) belongs to the tachykinin peptide hormone family. TAC1 are a family of peptides which have similar biologic activities and share a common C-terminal sequence, phe-X-gly-leu-met-NH2, however they have distinct N-terminal sequences that convey receptor specificities. TAC1 is assumed to act as neurotransmitters which interact with nerve receptors and smooth muscle cells. TAC1 induces behavioral responses and serves as vasodilators and secretagogues.

IMP3 is the human homolog of the yeast Imp3 protein and Essential for the early cleavages during pre-18S ribosomal RNA processing. IMP3 is a Part of the 60-80S U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein (U3 snoRNP). IMP3 is a member of to the ribosomal protein S4P family and localizes to the nucleoli and interacts with the U3 snoRNP complex. IMP3 contains an S4 domain. U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein protein IMP3 is a protein which in humans is encoded by the IMP3 gene.

Pyruvate kinase is a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. The M2 isoenzyme of pyruvate kinase is specifically expressed at high levels in tumor cells, and can be measured in plasma of patients with advanced breast cancer. The marker is useful for measuring disease activity, sensitivity to chemotherapy and recurrence.

USH1C gene product Harmonin, is a scaffold protein which functions in the assembly of Usher protein complexes. Harmonin is able to attach to various proteins in cell membranes and coordinate their activities. Harmonin contains PDZ domains, a coiled-coil region with a bipartite nuclear localization signal and a PEST degradation sequence. USH1C is expressed in the small intestine, colon, kidney, eye, vestibule of the inner ear and weakly in the pancreas.
Mutations in the USH1C gene cause the Usher syndrome type I which is an autosomal recessive sensory defect involving congenital profound sensorineural deafness, vestibular dysfunction, and blindness due to progressive retinitis pigmentosa. Sensorineural deafness is caused by damage to the neural receptors of the inner ear, the nerve pathways to the brain, or the area of the brain that receives sound information. The 3 types of the Usher syndrome (1- 3) are distinguished by age at onset and differences in auditory and vestibular function. USH1C gene defects cause of non-syndromic sensorineural deafness autosomal recessive type 18 (DFNB18), is a form of sensorineural hearing loss.

RANBP1 is a member of a family of proteins which bind Ran GTPase. Ran GTPase is vital for cell cycle control, mRNA processing, nuclear transport, mitotic spindle assembly, and postmitotic nuclear re-assembly and nuclear architecture maintenance. RANBP1 does not stimulate GTPase activity of RAN however RANBP1 does distinctly raise GTP hydrolysis by the RanGTPase-activating protein (RanGAP1). Additionally, RANBP1 operates as a negative regulator of RCC1 by inhibiting RCC1-stimulated guanine nucleotide release from RAN.

Mmitochondrial import receptor subunit TOMM20 homolog (TOMM20) is a member of the Tom20 family. The Tom machinery consists of import receptors for the initial binding of cytosolically synthesized preproteins and a general import pore (GIP) for the membrane translocation of various preproteins into the mitochondria. TOMM20 acts as the transit peptide receptor at the surface of the mitochondrion outer membrane and facilitates the movement of preproteins into the TOM40 translocation pore.

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.

TGFB2 is a 27.08 kDa protein having two identical 118 amino acid peptide chains linked by a single disulfide bond. TGFB2 is part of a family of five related cytokines that have an extensive variation of normal and neoplastic cells, indicating the importance of these homo-dimmer proteins as multi-functional regulators of cellular activity. The three mammalian isoforms of TGF-β (TGFb1, TGFb2 and TGFb3) signal through the same receptor and stimulate similar biological responses. They are involved in physiological processes as embryogenesis, tissue remodelling and wound healing.

Growth/differentiation factors (GDF1-GDF15) belong to the BMP family of TGF-beta superfamily proteins. These factors are produced as inactive preproproteins which are subsequently cleaved and assembled into active secreted homodimers. BMP13 is a growth factor which controls proliferation and cellular differentiation in the retina and bone formation. BMP13 has a central role in regulating apoptosis during retinal development. GDF proteins are vital during embryonic development, particularly in the skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems. BMP13 gene mutations result in colobomata, which are congenital abnormalities in ocular development, and in Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS), which is a congenital disorder of spinal segmentation.

OX40 Ligandis a part of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)receptor family. OX40L receptor is OX40 which is expressed predominantly on activated CD4+ T cells.OX40 Ligandis expressed on various antigen-presenting cells such asmacrophages, DC2sand activated Blymphocytes. Expression of OX40 is momentary following engagement of T cell receptors. The ligation of OX40-OX40L stimulates proliferation anddifferentiation of activated B cells,increases immunoglobulin secretion and is also a sourceof survival signal for T cells and enables the development of memory T cells.

Transforming growth factor betas (TGFBetas) mediate many cell-cell interactions that occur during embryonic development. Three TGFBetas have been identified in mammals. TGFBeta1, TGFBeta2 and TGFBeta3 are each synthesized as precursor proteins that are very similar in that each is cleaved to yield a 112 amino acid polypeptide that remains associated with the latent portion of the molecule.