Search results

Protein Kinase IFN Double Stranded RNA Activator, also known as PRKRA, mediates the effects of interferon when a viral infection takes place. PRKRA activates EIF2AK2/PKR in the absence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and leads to phosphorylation of EIF2S1/EFI2-alpha and inhibition of translation and induction of apoptosis. Mutations in PRKRA are associated with dystonia.

Integrase is an enzyme produced by the HIV which enables its genetic material to be integrated into the DNA of the infected cell and is a key component in the pre-integration complex. HIV integrase contains 3 domains, an N-terminal HH-CC zinc fingerdomainwhich is partially responsible for multimerization, a central catalytic domain and a C-terminal domain. Both Central catalytic domain and C-terminal domains have been shown to bind both viral and cellular DNA. No crystal structure data exists with Integrase bound to its DNA substrates. HIV-1 integrase functions as a dimeror a tetramer. Additionally, several host cellular proteins interact with integrase and may facilitate the integration process.

Epidermal growth factor has a profound effect on the differentiation of specific cells in vivo and is a potent mitogenic factor for a variety of cultured cells of both ectodermal and mesodermal origin. The EGF precursor is believed to exist as a membrane-bound molecule which is proteolytically cleaved to generate the 53-amino acid peptide hormone that stimulates cells to divide. EGF stimulates the growth of various epidermal and epithelial tissues in vivo and in vitro and of some fibroblasts in cell culture.

HIV-1 Nef is anessential factor for efficient viral replication and pathogenesis and therefore is produced shortly after virus infection. HIV-1 Nef is also facilitates virus replication and enhances virions infectivity. Nef exerts pleiotropic effects: decreases cell surface CD4 antigen by interacting with the Src family kinase LCK, down-modulates surface MHC-I molecules and protects the infected cell from apoptosis in order to keep it alive until the next virus generation is mature. Nef protein bypasses host T-cell signaling byinducing a trascriptional program almost identical to that of anti-CD3 cell activation.

ECH1 is a member of the hydratase/isomerase superfamily. ECH1 demonstrates high sequence similarity to enoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) hydratases of more than a few species, mostly within a conserved domain characteristic of these proteins. ECH1 contains a C-terminal peroxisomal targeting sequence, localizes to both the peroxisome and the mitochondria. peroxisomal takes part in the auxiliary step of the fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway specifically functioning to catalyze the isomerization of 3-trans, 5-cis-dienoyl-CoA to 2-trans, 4-transdienoyl-CoA.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3, subunit I (EIF3I) is part of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF-3) complex, which is essential for numerous steps in the initiation of protein synthesis. The eIF-3 complex links with the 40S ribosome and facilitates the recruitment of eIF-1, eIF-1A, eIF-2: GTP: methionyl-tRNAi and eIF-5 to form the 43S pre-initiation complex (43S PIC). The eIF-3 complex stimulates mRNA recruitment to the 43S PIC and scanning of the mRNA for AUG recognition. The eIF-3 complex is also essential for disassembly and recycling of post-termination ribosomal complexes and subsequently prevents premature joining of the 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits prior to initiation. Among the diseases associated with EIF3I are clonorchiasis, and tonsillitis.

Membrane cofactor protein isoform 14 (CD46), is a type I membrane protein which has cofactor activity for inactivation of complement components C3b and C4b by serum factor I. This function resides in the complement control protein repeats (CCPs), with CCP1–4 vital for regulation. CD46 is also involved in the fusion of the spermatozoa with the oocyte during fertilization. CD46 is common in thymocytes, T cells, B cells, monocytes, granulocytes, NK cells, platelets, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, placenta and sperm.

NF-kappa-B inhibitor-interacting Ras-like protein 1 (NKIRAS1) is a member of the small GTPase superfamily. NKIRAS1 is an unusual Ras-like protein which acts as a potent regulator of NF-kappa-B activity by thwarting the degradation of NF-kappa-B inhibitor beta (NFKBIB) by most signals, describing why NFKBIB is more resistant to degradation. NKIRAS1 functions by blocking phosphorylation of NFKBIB and mediating cytoplasmic retention of p65/RELA NF-kappa-B subunit. Both GTP- and GDP-bound forms block phosphorylation of NFKBIB.

Endothelial sialomucin (Endomucin) interferes with the assembly of focal adhesion complexes and inhibits interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix. Endomucin is expressed in the heart, kidney and lung.

NELL2 is expressed in large quantities in neural tissues and has a significant role in the development of neural tissues. In addition, NELL protein has six epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeat domains which plays a part in calcium binding.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirusthat can lead to a condition in which the immune systembegins to fail, leading to opportunistic infections. HIV primarily infects vital cells in the humanimmune systemsuch as helper T cells(specifically CD4+ T cells), macrophagesand dendritic cells. HIV infection leads to low levels of CD4+ T cells through three main mechanisms: firstly, direct viral killing of infected cells; secondly, increased rates of apoptosisin infected cells; and thirdly, killing of infected CD4+ T cells by CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytesthat recognize infected cells. When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunityis lost, and the body becomes progressively more susceptible to opportunistic infections. HIV was classified as a member of the genus Lentivirus, part of the family of Retroviridae. Lentiviruses have many common morphologies and biological properties. Many species are infected by lentiviruses, which are characteristically responsible for long-duration illnesses with a long incubation period. Lentiviruses are transmitted as single-stranded, positive-sense, enveloped RNA viruses. Upon entry of the target cell, the viral RNA genomeis converted to double-stranded DNAby a virally encoded reverse transcriptasethat is present in the virus particle. This viral DNA is then integrated into the cellular DNA by a virally encoded integraseso that the genome can be transcribed. Once the virus has infected the cell, two pathways are possible: either the virus becomes latentand the infected cell continues to function, or the virus becomes active and replicates, and a large number of virus particles are liberated that can then infect other cells.

Salmonella Typhi is a pathogen causing typhoid fever, affecting over 17 million people with approximately 600,000 deaths annually worldwide. If untreated, typhoid fever cases result in mortality rates ranging from 12-30%.

EIF5A is the single protein identified to contain remarkable amino acid formed by the action of deoxyhypusine synthase and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase using spermidine as the substrate. EIF5A takes part in the first step of peptide bond formation in translation, nevertheless further experiments implicates it as a universally conserved translation elongation factor. Modulation of EIF5A is connected to proliferation and cancer. Expression of EIF-5A is upregulated in the PBMCs of HIV-1 patients. EIF5A coordinates significant cellular processes like cell viability and senescence during its effects on the stability of certain mRNAs. Heat stress-induced loss of EIF-5A in a human pancreatic cancer cell line. EIF5A stability takes part in determining the fate of the particular cell type after severe heat stress.

IFNI30 inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (IFI30), is a part of the GILT family. IFI30 is a lysosomal thiol reductase which at low pH is capable of decreasing protein’s disulfide bonds. IFI30 is expressed constitutively in antigen-presenting cells and induced by gamma-IFN in other cell types. Also, IFI30 plays an important role in MHC class II-restricted antigen processing. IFI30 facilitates the generation of MHC class II-restricted epitopes from disulfide bond-containing antigen by the endocytic reduction of disulfide bonds and Also facilitates MHC class I-restricted recognition of exogenous antigens containing disulfide bonds by CD8+ T-cells or cross-presentation.

IL-1 alpha is produced by activated macrophages, stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing il-2 release, b-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL1A proteins are involved in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and are reported to stimulate the release of prostaglandin and collagenase from synovial cells.

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

Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is found in body fluids such as serum, sweat, and seminal and breast cyst fluids. It is identical in amino acid sequence to tumor-derived lipid mobilizing factor (LMF), a protein associated with the dramatic loss of adipose body stores in cancer cachexia, and has been shown to stimulate lipolysis by adipocytes in vivo and in vitro. A role for ZAG has been proposed in the regulation of body weight, and age-dependent changes in genetically influenced obesity, and also it regulates melanin production by normal and malignant melanocytes. It has also recently been classified as a novel adipokine in that it is produced by both white and brown fat adipocytes and may act in a local autocrine fashion in the reduction of adiposity in cachexia. Controlling ZAG/LMF's activity could be life-saving in the management of certain cancers and other cachexiainducing conditions, and its possible normal role in body fat store homeostasis is deserving of understanding in its own right. ZAG exhibits a class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) fold but is a soluble protein rather than being anchored to plasma membranes and does not associate with alpha-2-microglobulin in humans. Like antigen-presenting MHC class I proteins, ZAG has an open apical groove, and X-ray crystallography of human derived ZAG revealed an unidentifiable electron density in a similar position to that occupied by antigenic peptides in classical MHC proteins and glycolipids in isoforms of CD1. This presumptive ligand is not a peptide, and the groove is too small to hold a glycolipid such as is presented by CD1 isoforms. By analogy with all other MHC class I-related proteins that have an open apical groove [some do not ], occupancy by a ligand is probably crucial to ZAG's biological function. Despite all of the structural and biochemical evidence that ZAG binds a ligand, none has so far been found by extraction from protein isolated from biological fluids. This difficulty could be because the ligand is labile, heterogeneous, or readily lost during purification procedures. Knowing more about how ZAG interacts with the compounds it has been found to bind, both natural and artificial, will inform searches for the elusive ligand(s) and its/their role in ZAG's signaling function.

Chikungunya is an infection caused by the chikungunya virus which is passed to humans by two species of mosquito of the genus Aedes: A. albopictus and A. aegypti. Animal reservoirs of the virus include monkeys, birds, cattle, and rodents. The features of the disease are a sudden onset of fever 2-4 days after exposure. The fever typically lasts 2-7 days, while the associated joint pains usually last weeks or months but sometimes years. The mortality rate is a little less than 1 in 1,000. The disease has occurred in outbreaks in Asia, Europe and the Americas since 2004. CHIKV is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome, 11,800 nts long which encodes 2 open reading frames. The nucleocapsid is tightly enveloped by a host-derived lipid bilayer (envelope) supporting the virus-encoded envelope proteins. 80 glycoprotein spikes are C- terminally anchored within the viral envelope. The structural polyprotein is translated from a viral sub genomic mRNA, while as the 5 structural proteins (capsid, E3, E2, 6K, E1) are translated as a single polyprotein, from which capsid (C) is cleaved off to encapsidate. The envelope polyprotein precursor E3-E2-6K-E1 is translocated to the endoplasmatic reticulum. Polyprotein is processed by host signalases, resulting in E3, E2 & E1 forming viral hetero-trimeric spikes. The viral spikes majorly contains E2 and E1 facilitate cell receptor recognition, cell entry thru pH-dependent endocytosis and support viral budding.

HBsAg is the surface antigen of the Hepatitis-B-Virus (HBV). The capsid of a virus has different surface proteins from the rest of the virus. The antigen is a protein that binds specifically on one of these surface proteins. It is commonly referred to as the Australian Antigen.

Noroviruses are categorized into two groups - group 1 and group 2. Norovirus is a widespread virus which can cause human gastroenteritis, an illness characterized with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and sickness. In America there are about 20 million causes of infection by Nororvirus, 800 ending in deaths. Worldwide, this virus infects around 267 million people and causes over 200,000 deaths per year. Even though having norovirus is unpleasant, it is seldom dangerous and typically ends in full recovery after few days. The cases resulting in deaths are primarily very young, elderly and immuno-suppressed individuals and people from less developed countries. Norovirus is extremely contagious and is spread from person to person, by infected food or water or polluted surfaces. Outbreaks usually happen from November to April, peaking in January.

Disulfide Oxidoreductase or DsbA is a protein, found in the plasma. It is part of the thioredoxin protein family. The protein creates disulfide bonds in the target proteins by contributing disulfide bond from its Cys30-Pro31-His32-Cys33 active site to a couple of cysteine residues.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirusthat can lead to a condition in which the immune systembegins to fail, leading to opportunistic infections. HIV primarily infects vital cells in the humanimmune systemsuch as helper T cells(specifically CD4+ T cells), macrophagesand dendritic cells. HIV infection leads to low levels of CD4+ T cells through three main mechanisms: firstly, direct viral killing of infected cells; secondly, increased rates of apoptosisin infected cells; and thirdly, killing of infected CD4+ T cells by CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytesthat recognize infected cells. When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunityis lost, and the body becomes progressively more susceptible to opportunistic infections. HIV was classified as a member of the genus Lentivirus, part of the family of Retroviridae. Lentiviruses have many common morphologies and biological properties. Many species are infected by lentiviruses, which are characteristically responsible for long-duration illnesses with a long incubation period. Lentiviruses are transmitted as single-stranded, positive-sense, enveloped RNA viruses. Upon entry of the target cell, the viral RNA genomeis converted to double-stranded DNAby a virally encoded reverse transcriptasethat is present in the virus particle. This viral DNA is then integrated into the cellular DNA by a virally encoded integraseso that the genome can be transcribed. Once the virus has infected the cell, two pathways are possible: either the virus becomes latentand the infected cell continues to function, or the virus becomes active and replicates, and a large number of virus particles are liberated that can then infect other cells.

Smac/Diablo is a proapoptotic protein that increases caspase activation in the cytochrome c/Apaf-1/caspase-9 pathway by its binding to the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) and removing their inhibitory activity. Smac/Diablo is a mitochondrial protein which enters the cytosol when cells go through apoptosis, and it moderates the caspase inhibition of IAPs.Smac/DIABLO expression is associated with the result of renal cell carcinoma.Dimeric form of Smac/DIABLO implies that once expressed in the cell the protein has a little probability of dissociation and, thus, loss of function. Survivin, Smac/DIABLO, & PKC-? play an important part in the inhibition of apoptosis by FGF-2 in human small cell lung cancer cells. Mitochondrial survivin associates with Smac/DIABLO, delaying its release. Decreased expression of Smac protein takes part in ovarian carcinogenesis and chemotherapeutic resistance. Smac/DIABLO plays a role in tumor cells during the pathway of apoptosis induction. SMAC protein is regulated by XIAP and degraded by proteasome. SMAC protein takes part inleukemic cell apoptosis. Smac is released during stress-induced apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells.