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Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a human, single-stranded RNA retrovirus that causes T-cell leukemia and T-cell lymphoma. The virus activates a subset of T-helper cellscalled Th1cells. The result is a proliferation of Th1 cells and overproduction of Th1 related cytokines (mainly IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha). Feedback mechanisms of these cytokines cause a suppression of the Th2 lymphocytes and a reduction of Th2 cytokine production (mainly IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13). The end result is a reduction in the ability of the infected host to mount an adequate immune response to invading organisms that require a predominantly Th2 dependant response (these include parasitic infections and production of mucosal and humoral antibodies).

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a human, single-stranded RNA retrovirus that causes T-cell leukemia and T-cell lymphoma. The virus activates a subset of T-helper cellscalled Th1cells. The result is a proliferation of Th1 cells and overproduction of Th1 related cytokines (mainly IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha). Feedback mechanisms of these cytokines cause a suppression of the Th2 lymphocytes and a reduction of Th2 cytokine production (mainly IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13). The end result is a reduction in the ability of the infected host to mount an adequate immune response to invading organisms that require a predominantly Th2 dependant response (these include parasitic infections and production of mucosal and humoral antibodies).

Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, thus committing glucose to the glycolytic pathway. Hexokinase1 encodes a ubiquitous form of hexokinase which localizes to the outer membrane of mitochondria. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hemolytic anemia due to hexokinase deficiency. Alternative splicing of HXK1 results in five transcript variants which encode different isoforms, some of which are tissue-specific. Each isoform has a distinct N-terminus; the remainder of the protein is identical among all the isoforms. A sixth transcript variant has been described, but due to the presence of several stop codons, it is not thought to encode a protein.

Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, thus committing glucose to the glycolytic pathway. Hexokinase 2 is the predominant form found in skeletal muscle. It localizes to the outer membrane of mitochondria. Expression of this gene is insulin-responsive, and studies in rat suggest that it is involved in the increased rate of glycolysis seen in rapidly growing cancer cells.

BID is a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein having only the BH3 domain. In reaction to apoptotic signaling, BID interacts with another Bcl-2 family of cell death regulators, called Bax, they form a heterodimer resulting to the insertion of Bax into the outer mitochondrial membrane. Bax induces the opening of the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel which lead to the release of cytochrome c and other pro-apoptotic factors from the mitochondria resulting in activation of caspases. BID is a mediator of mitochondrial damage induced by caspase-8 (CASP8). CASP8 cleaves BID, and the COOH-terminal part translocates to mitochondria where it triggers cytochrome c release. The major proteolytic product p15 BID releasea cytochrome c. Isoform 1, Isoform 2 and Isoform 4 induce ice-like proteases and apoptosis while Isoform 3 does not induce apoptosis.

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.

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.

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.

Alcohol dehydrogenase 6 (ADH6) belongs to the alcohol dehydrogenase family. Alcohol dehydrogenase family members metabolize a wide variety of substrates, including ethanol, retinol, other aliphatic alcohols, hydroxysteroids, and lipid peroxidation products. ADH6 is expressed in the stomach as well as in the liver, and it contains a glucocorticoid response element upstream of its 5’ UTR, which is a steroid hormone receptor binding site.

MSRB2 is a member of the methionine sulfoxide reductases(MSRs) family which are antioxidant repair enzymes. MSRB2 protein catalyzes the decrease of free and protein-bound methionine sulfoxide to methionine. MSRB2 has a part in protecting against oxidative stress in numerous organs.

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II DR Beta 1 also known as HLA-DRB1 ia a member of the HLA class II beta chain paralogs. Molecule class II is a heterodimer consisting of an alpha (DRA) and a beta chain (DRB), both anchored in the membrane. HLA-DRB1 takes an essential part in the immune system by presenting peptides derived from extracellular proteins. Class II molecules are expressed in antigen presenting cells (APC: B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages). Furthermore, the beta chain is approximately 26- 28 kDa. It is encoded by 6 exons. While exon one encodes the leader peptide; exons 2 and 3 encode the two extracellular domains; exon 4 encodes the transmembrane domain; and exon 5 encodes the cytoplasmic tail.

Dehydrogenase/reductase SDR family member 8 (HSD17B11) is a member of the HSD17B family of proteins, which regulate the availability of steroids within various tissues throughout the body. HSD17B11 is widely expressed with the highest levels found in the retina, pancreas, kidney, liver, lung, adrenal, small intestine, ovary and heart as well as in steroidogenic cells. HSD17B11 converts androstan-3-?,17-?-diol (3-?-diol) to androsterone, suggesting it may participate in androgen metabolism during steroidogenesis.

ATPaseTransporting Beta 2 (ATP1B2) is the non-catalytic component of the active enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP coupled with the exchange of Na+ and K+ ions across the plasma membrane. The precise function of the beta-2 subunit is not known. The ATP1B2 protein is composed of 3 subunits: alpha (catalytic), beta and gamma.

BCAT1 catalyzes the leading reaction in the catabolism of the indispensable branched chain amino acids isoleucine, leucine and valine.

The signal sequence receptor (SSR) is a glycosylated endoplasmic reticulum membrane receptor related with protein translocation across the ER membrane. The SSR consists of 2 subunits, a 34-kD glycoprotein (alpha-SSR or SSR1) and a 22-kD glycoprotein (beta-SSR or SSR2). The human beta-signal sequence receptor gene (SSR2) maps to chromosome bands 1q21-q23. Diseases correlated with SSR2 include calcaneonavicular coalition, and osteosarcoma, and among its related super-pathways are Viral mRNA Translation and Generic Transcription Pathway.

BPHL is a Serine hydrolase that is a part of the AB hydrolase superfamily which catalyzes the hydrolytic activation of amino acid ester prodrugs of nucleoside analogs. BPHL is expressed large quantities in liver and kidney and in minor quantities in heart, intestine and skeletal muscle. BPHL takes part in detoxification processes and is a specific alpha-amino acid ester hydrolase which favors small, hydrophobic, and aromatic side chains and does not have a strict necessity for the leaving group except for favoring a primary alcohol.

CBX1 is an enriched heterochromatin which belongs to the heterochromatin protein family. The centromeres related CBX1 identifies and binds histone H3 tails methylated at 'Lys-9', causing epigenetic repression. Collaboration with lamin B receptor (LBR) can impact the relations between the heterochromatin and the inner nuclear membrane. CBX1 has a vital part in the epigenetic control of chromatin structure and gene expression.

Phosphoserine aminotransferase (PSAT1) catalyzes the conversion of 3-phosphohydroxypyruvate into 3-phosphoserine which is dephosphorylated consequently by phosphoserine phosphatase to form L-serine. PSAT1 is probably a phosphoserine aminotransferase, based on similarity to proteins in mouse, rabbit, and Drosophila. PSAT1 is expressed at high levels in the brain, liver, kidney and pancreas, and very weakly expressed in the thymus, prostate, testis and colon. Defects in the PSAT1 gene are the cause of phosphoserine aminotransferase deficiency (PSATD). PSATD is distinguished biochemically by low plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of serine and glycine and clinically by intractable seizures, acquired microcephaly, hypertonia, and psychomotor retardation.

Parvalbumin alpha (PVALB) is a member of a larger group of EF hand proteins. PVALB is a high affinity calcium ion-binding protein which is structurally and functionally similar to calmodulin and troponin C. Parvalbumin is expressed in a specific population of GABAergic interneurones which are believed to have a role in maintaining the balance between excitation and inhibition in the cortex as well as the hippocampus.

HBQ1 is a member of the Hemoglobin family. Hemoglobin is a 66.7 kDa protein attached to four iron-binding, methenelinked tetrapyrrole rings (heme). The globin part of Hemoglobin contains 2 alpha chains and 2 beta chains organized as couples creating a tetramer. Every one of the 4 globin chains covalently connects with a heme group. The bonds between alpha and beta chains are frailer than between parallel globin chains, thus creating a cleavage plane which is vital for oxygen binding and release. Relaxation of the alpha1-beta2 cleavage plane results in high affinity for oxygen.

Zinc Finger Protein 689 (ZNF689) is a member of the krueppel C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family. The ZNF689 protein contains 12 C2H2-type zinc fingers and 1 KRAB domain. ZNF689 may be involved in transcriptional regulation.

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.