Search results

Darbepoetin is a mutant recombinant human EPO-Alpha protein re-engineered, containing 5 amino acid changes at N30, T32, V87, N88, T90. Darbepoetin exhibits longer half-life stimulating red blood cell production than Erythropoietin. Darbepoetin maintains hemoglobin more effectively compared to EPO-Alpha.

WIF1 binds to wnt proteins and inhibits their activities. WIF1 plays a role in mesoderm segmentation. WNT proteins are extracellular signaling molecules that take part in the control of embryonic development & cancer. WIF1 protein contains a WNT inhibitory factor (WIF) domain and 5 epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains. WIF1 takes part in mesoderm segmentation. WIF1 protein is found to be present in fish, amphibia and mammals. WIF1 is a recurrent target in human salivary gland oncogenesis. Downregulation of WIF1 takes part in the development and progression of pleomorphic adenomas. WIF1 is a tumor suppressor, specifically in nonfunctioning pituitary tumors.

SERPINB2 is an inhibitory serpin produced primarily in keratinocytes, stimulated monocytes, and placental trophoblasts. SERPINB2 is found primarily as a 47 kDa non-glycosylated intracellular protein that is induced to be secreted as 60 kDa glycoprotein. The glycosylated and unglycosylated SERPINB2 are similarly effective as inhibitors of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), the only proven physiological target of SERPINB2.

Nectin Cell Adhesion Molecule 2, also known as NECTIN2, is a Ca(2+)-independent cell-cell adhesion molecule which is one of the plasma membrane components of adherens junctions. NECTIN2 takes a vital part in the establishment of homotypic as well as heterotypic cell to cell contacts. NECTIN2 is essential for resisting herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in transfected cells. NECTIN2 is also a possible target for antibody therapy of breast & ovarian cancers. NECTIN2 might be related with human longevity. Two diseases which have been associated with NECTIN2 are Herpes Simplex and Ovarian Cystic Teratoma.

OTC is a member of the ATCase/OTCase family. OTC has a key part in the urea cycle, catalyzing the second step in this pathway: the transformation of L-orthinine and carbamoyl phosphate to L-citrulline. In humans, the urea cycle is a vital pathway to detoxification of ammonia. Alterations in the gene encoding OTC are linked to the X-linked disorder OTCD (ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency). OTCD disorder of the urea cycle is characterized by hyperammonemia.

Galectin-3 mediates with the alpha-3, beta-1 integrin the stimulation by cspg4 of endothelial cells migration. Galectin-3 plays an necessary part during the acquisition of vasculogenic mimicry and angiogenic properties associated with melanoma progression. LGALS3 overexpression is highly expressed in early stages of papillary carcinoma, and its expression intensity declines during tumor progression. Serum levels of LGALS3 are high in patients with thyroid malignancy but there is considerable overlap in serum LGALS3 concentrations between those with benign and malignant nodular thyroid disease. LGLAS3 takes part as an immune regulator to inhibit T-cell immune responses and promote tumor growth, as a result providing a new mechanism for tumor immune tolerance.

L-Selectin belongs to a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. The L-Selectin molecule is composed of various domains: one homologous to lectins, one to epidermal growth factor, and two to the consensus repeat units found in C3/C4 binding proteins.
L-selectin is expressed constitutively on lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes and interacts specifically with carbohydrate groups on activated endothelial cells. L-Selectin may be shed by proteolytic cleavage and circulating levels in biological fluids may be used as an indicator of various pathological conditions. L-Selectin is cleaved by ADAM17.
L-selectin works as a "homing receptor" for leukocytes to enter secondary lymphoid tissues via the high endothelial venules. Ligands present on endothelial cells will attach to leukocytes expressing L-selectin, which causes the leukocytes to become localized at that juncture. The receptor is also located on the cell surfaces of "naive" T cells, which have not yet encountered their particular antigen. This surface expression is lost following the cells activation.

Cell surface glycoprotein MUC18 (MCAM), is an integral membrane glycoprotein which is part of the immunoglobulin superfamily. MCAM is related with a variety of carcinomas such as tumor progression, metastasis and is also implicated in embryonic neural development. In Addition, MCAM takes part in cell adhesion, as well as in cohesion of the endothelial monolayer at the intercellular junctions in vascular tissue.

Hemopexin (or haemopexin) is a plasma protein that binds heme with the highest affinity of any known protein. Hemopexin is generally expressed in liver, and belongs to acute phase reactants, the synthesis of which is induced after inflammation. Heme is potentially very toxic because of its ability to intercalate into lipid membrane and to generate hydroxyl radicals. Hemopexin’s function of scavenging the heme released or lost by the turnover of heme proteins such as hemoglobin defends the body from the oxidative damage that free heme can cause. Additionally, hemopexin discharges its bound ligand for internalisation upon interacting with a specific receptor located on the surface of liver cells. This hemopexin function is in order to preserve the body's iron. Hemopexin’s levels in the serum are an indication of how much heme is present in the blood. Low Hemopexin levels show that there is a lot of it in the serum. For that reason, low hemopexin levels indicate that there has been consid

Resistin, a product of the RSTN gene, is a peptide hormone belonging to the class of cysteine-rich secreted proteins which is termed the RELM family, and is also described as ADSF (Adipose Tissue- Specific Secretory Factor) and FIZZ3 (Found in Inflammatory Zone). Human resistin contains 108 amino acids as a prepeptide, and its hydrofobic signal peptide is cleaved before its secretion. Resistin circulates in human blood as a dimeric protein consisting of two 92 amino acid polypeptides, which are disulfide-linked via Cys26.
Resistin may be an important link between obesity and insulin resistance. Mouse resistin, specifically produced and secreted by adipocyte, acts on skeletal muscle myocytes, hepatocytes and adipocytes themselves so that it reduces their sensitivity to insulin. Steppan et al. have suggested that resistin suppresses the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake. They have also suggested that resistin is present at elevated levels in blood of obese mice, and is down regulated by fasting and antidiabetic drugs. Way et al., on the other hand, have found that resistin expression is severly suppressed in obesity and is stimulated by several antidiabetic drugs.
Other studies have shown that mouse resistin increases during the differentiation of adipocytes, but it also seems to inhibit adipogenesis. In contrast, the human adipogenic differentiation is likely to be associated with a down regulation of resistin gene expression.

Type 1 cystatins are also called stefins which function as intracellular thiol protease inhibitors. Cystatin-B protein is able to form a dimer stabilized by noncovalent forces, inhibiting papain and cathepsins l, h and b. CSTB protein protects proteases leakage from lysosomes. Mutations in Stefin-B gene cause primary defects in patients with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (EPM1), a degenerative disease of the central nervous system. CSTB is overexpressed & elevated in the serum of HCC patients. Cystatin-B in vivo has a polymeric structure which is sensitive to the redox environment. Cystatin-B inhibits bone resorption by down-regulating intracellular cathepsin K activity despite increased osteoclast survival. Protein and mRNA levels of stefin B are significantly lower in atypical benign meningiomas. Stefins-A & Stefin-B which belong to the type-1 Cystatins, are up-regulated in lung tumours and thus able to counteract harmful tumour-associated proteolytic activity. Human stefin-A & Stefin-B form amyloid fibrils. Copper binding by stefin-B reduces amyloid fibril formation. A number of alternatively spliced CSTB isoforms were recognized in patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Decreased CSTB activity in EPM1 pathogenesis is controled by cathepsins through increased activity of cathepsin-S & cathepsin-L.

MYCBP is a member of the AMY1 family. MYCBP (c-Myc binding protein) binds to the transactivation domain of c-Myc and stimulates the activation of E-box-dependent transcription. MYCBP translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus during S phase when increased expression of c-Myc occurs. MYCBP also associates with AKAP 149 and AKAP 84 in mitochondria of somatic cells and sperm, suggesting a role for MYCBP in spermatogenesis. MYCBP is highly expressed in the heart, placenta, pancreas, skeletal muscle and kidney. It is also present at low levels in the lung.

OTOR proteins is also known as fibrocyte-derived protein (Fdp) and Melanoma inhibitory activity-like (MIAL). Otoraplin is a member of the melanoma-inhibiting activity gene family. Otoraplin is a secreted 16 kDa globular protein that is expressed in the inner ear by periotic mesenchyme and developing and mature fibrocytes. OTOR is highly homologous to MIA/cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein (CD-RAP), which is a cartilage-specific protein that is also expressed in malignant melanoma cells. The 111 amino acid mature human otoraplin contains 1 SH3 domain (46 – 107 amino acids) and a Tyr at position 50 that is reportedly sulfated. Otoraplin takes pasrt in the initiation of periotic mesenchyme chondrogenesis.
Otoraplin is secreted through the Golgi apparatus and plays a role in cartilage development and maintenance. A frequent polymorphism in the translation start codon of OTOR can abolish translation and may be associated with forms of deafness.

TCEB1 (elongin C) is a subunit of elongin, which is a common transcription elongation factor that increases the RNA polymerase II transcription elongation past template encoded arresting sites. The SIII complex is comprised of elongins A/A2, B and C. The SIII complex activates elongation by RNA polymerase II by curbing transient pausing of the polymerase at numerous sites within transcription units. Elongin A acts as the transcriptionally active component of the SIII complex, while elongins B and C are regulatory subunits. Elongin A2 is specifically expressed in the testis, and able to forming a stable complex with elongins B and C. The VHL (von Hippel-Lindau) tumor suppressor protein binds to elongins B and C, and thus inhibits transcription elongation.

Vaspin (visceral adipose-specific SERPIN) is a newly identified adipokine, which is a member of serine protease inhibitor family. Vaspin is also a unique insulin sensitizing adipocytokine in obesity. A recent publication indicates that induction of human vaspin mRNA expression in adipose tissue is regulated in a fat depot-specific manner and could be associated with parameters of obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism.

PCBP1 is a single-stranded nucleic acid binding protein that binds preferentially to oligo dC. PCBP1 plays a role in formation of a sequence-specific alpha-globin mRNP complex which is associated with alpha-globin mRNA stability. PCBP1 along with PCBP-2 and hnRNPK corresponds to the major cellular poly(rC)-binding protein. PCBP1 and PCBP-2 also functions as translational coactivators of poliovirus RNA via a sequence-specific interaction with stem-loop IV of the IRES and promotes poliovirus RNA replication by binding to its 5'-terminal cloverleaf structure.

IFIH1 is a DEAD box protein which is upregulated in response to treatment with beta-interferon and a protein kinase C-activating compound, mezerein. Irreversible reprogramming of melanomas can be attained by therapy with both these agents; treatment with either agent alone only achieves reversible differentiation. DEAD box proteins are implicated in several cellular processes involving alteration of RNA secondary structure such as translation initiation, nuclear and mitochondrial splicing, and ribosome and spliceosome assembly.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 11 (CCL11) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that is also known as eotaxin. CCL11 selectively recruits eosinophils by inducing their chemotaxis, and therefore, is implicated in allergic responses. The effects of CCL11 are mediated by its binding to a G-protein-linked receptor known as a chemokine receptor. Chemokine receptors for which CCL11 is a ligand include CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5. The gene for human CCL11 (scya11) is encoded on three exons and is located on chromosome 17.

GDF15 is part of the TGF-Beta superfamily which is involved in regulating inflammatory and apoptotic pathways in injured tissues and throughout disease processes. GDF15 is most abundant in the liver. Its expression in liver can be considerably up-regulated in during injury of organs such as liver, kidney, heart and lung. GDF-15 promotes proliferation or growth arrest and differentiation due to differences in cellular differentiation. GDF15 prevents apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons by activating Akt and inhibiting endogenously active ERK. GDF15 is a novel autocrine/endocrine factor that antagonizes the hypertrophic response and loss of ventricular performance.

Nicotinamide riboside kinase 2 (ITGB1BP3) is a member of the uridine kinase family and NRK subfamily. ITGB1BP3 catalyzes the phosphorylation of nicotinic acid riboside and nicotinamide riboside to create nicotinic acid mononucleotide and nicotinamide mononucleotide. ITGB1BP3 reduces laminin matrix deposition and cell adhesion to laminin, but not to fibronectin. ITGB1BP3 is involved in the regulation of PXN at the protein level and of PXN tyrosine phosphorylation. ITGB1BP3 also has a role in the regulation of terminal myogenesis.

FSTL1 protein resembles follistatin, an ACTV-binding protein. FSTL1 is an autoantigen associated with rheumatoid arthritis and it holds an FS section, a follistatin-like sequence having 10 conserved cysteine residues.