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Celiac disease is an enteropathy that is characterized by intestinal lesions of variable severity. Tissue-type transglutaminase (tTG) is believed to be the predominant autoantigen for celiac disease and the corresponding autoantibodies show higher sensitivity and specificity than anti-gliadin antibodies. Highly pure recombinant human tTG is now available to replace the traditionally used tTG fraction from guinea pig.
Tissue-type transglutaminase antigens have been specifically modified for improved handling: exchange of an active site amino acid eliminates the protein cross-linking activity of the enzyme, while maintaining the native three-dimensional structure and the enzyme's secondary GTPase activity. This engineering assures reproducible properties of the antigen preparations through the absence of variable and ill-defined covalent aggregates of tTG antigen and host cell proteins.

Endothelial cells express three different vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, belonging to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). They are named VEGFR-1 (Flt-1), VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1), VEGFR-3 (Flt-4). Their expression is almost exclusively restricted to endothelial cells, but VEGFR-1 can also be found on monocytes, dendritic cells and on trophoblast cells. The flt-1 gene was first described in 1990. The receptor contains seven immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains, a single transmembrane region and an intracellular splited tyrosine kinase domain. Compared to VEGFR-2 the Flt-1 receptor has a higher affinity for VEGF but a weaker signaling activity. VEGFR-1 thus leads not to proliferation of endothelial cells, but mediates signals for differentiation. Interestingly a naturally occuring soluble variant of VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1) was found in HUVE supernatants in 1996, which is generated by alternative splicing of the flt-1 mRNA. The biological functions of sVEGFR-1 still are not clear, but it seems to be an endogenous regulator of angiogenesis, binding VEGF with the same affinity as the full-length receptor.

C-JUN is a gene which, in combination with c-Fos, forms the AP-1early response transcription factor. C-JUN is activated by the JNKpathway. C-JUN is the putative transforming gene of avian sarcoma virus 17. C-JUN is a protein which is highly similar to the viral protein, and which interacts directly with specific target DNA sequences to regulate gene expression. The C-JUN gene is intronless and is mapped to 1p32-p31, a chromosomal region involved in both translocations and deletions in human malignancies.

Intein is a section of a protein which can remove itself and return the remaining segment with a peptide bond. In addition, Inteins hold an endonuclease domain which takes part in Intein proliferation. Actually, various genes have unrelated intein-coding segments inserted at altered positions and they were found in all three domains of life (eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea) and in viruses.

Aspartylglucosaminidase, also known as AGA, takes part in the catabolism of Nlinked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. AGA is a protein coding gene which cleaves asparagine from N-acetylglucosamines in the lysosomal breakdown of glycoproteins.

Sepiapterin Reductase is an aldo-keto reductase that catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of pteridine derivatives and is essential in the biosynthesis of BH4. Mutations in Sepiapterin Reductase gene result in DOPA-responsive dystonia due to sepiaterin reductase deficiency defined by the presence of sustained involuntary muscle contractions, often leading to abnormal postures. Sepiapterin reductase is part of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family which reduces exogenous carbonyl compounds as well as phenylpropanedione. Sepiapterin reductase is an important enzyme for the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, an necessary cofactor for aromatic amino acid hydrolases together with tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis.

Killer Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C, Member 1 (KLRC1) is a part of the killer cell lectin-like receptor family. KLRC1 functions as a receptor for the detection of MHC class I HLA-E molecules by NK cells and some cytotoxic T-cells. KLRC1 is also connects with CD94 and is expressed on NK cells and some activated T cell.

UBE2E3 or Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 E3 is part of the E2 ubiquitinconjugating enzyme family. UBE2E3 is needed for the destruction of mitotic cyclins and for cell cycle progression. The ubiquitination process covalently attaches to a short protein of 76 amino acids called ubiquitin, to a lysine residue on the target protein. When a protein has been tagged with one ubiquitin molecule, other rounds of ubiquitination form a polyubiquitin chain that is recognized by the proteasome's 19S regulatory particle, triggering the ATP-dependent unfolding of the target protein which grants passage into the proteasome's 20S core particle, where proteases degrade the target into short peptide fragments for recycling by the cell.

Phosphoribosyltransferase domain-containing protein 1 (PRTFDC1) is a member of the purine/pyrimidine phosphoribosyltransferase family. PRTFDC1 has a low, barely measurable phosphoribosyltransferase activity (in vitro). PRTFDC1 can bind GMP, IMP and alpha-D-5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP). PRTFDC1 is not expected to impact purine metabolism or GMP salvage.

PDCD5 is expressed in tumor cells during apoptosis independent of the apoptosis-inducing stimuli. Prior to apoptosis induction, PDCD5 is distributed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Once apoptosis is induced, the amount of PDCD5 increases and by relocation from the cytoplasm, it accumulates in the nucleus.PDCD5 protein has a stable helical core conformation consisting of a triple-helix bundle and two dissociated terminal regions. PDCD5 is an important novel protein that regulates both apoptotic and non-apoptotic programmed cell death. PDCD5 functions in the process of apoptosis.
PDCD5 plays an important role in regulation of apoptotic processes in gastric cancer cells and gastric tumors.
PDCD5 plays a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
-27G/-11A SNP is associated with reduced PDCD5 promoter activity and increased susceptibility to chronic myelogenous leukemia.
PDCD5 gene may be a target gene under the control of some important apoptosis-related transcriptional factors during the cell apoptosis.

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 ( TDP1) is required for repairing stalled topoisomerase I-DNA complexes by catalyzing the hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bond between the tyrosine residue of topoisomerase I and the 3-prime phosphate of DNA. TDP1 also detach glycolate from single-stranded DNA having 3-prime phosphoglycolate, suggesting a role in repair of free-radical mediated DNA double-strand breaks.

GNMT is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of S-adenosyl-L-methionine with glycine to S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and sarcosine. GNMT is located in the cytoplasm and acts as a homotetramer. Defects in the GNMT gene causes of GNMT deficiency (hypermethioninemia). GNMT affects DNA methylation by regulating the ratio of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocystine and is involved in the detoxification pathway in liver cells. GNMT expression is diminished in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). GNMT catalyzes the methylation of glycine by using s- adenosylmethionine (adomet) to form n-methylglycine (sarcosine) with the concomitant production of s-adenosylhomocysteine (adohcy). GNMT plays an essential role in the regulation of tissue concentration of adomet and of metabolism of methionine.

Histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) is a member of the class 1 of the histone deacetylase/acuc/apha family. HDAC8 is biologically involved in skull morphogenesis and metabolic control of the ERR-alpha/PGC1-alpha transcriptional complex. Histones play a key role in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression, and developmental events. Histone acetylation/deacetylation modifies chromosome structure and affects transcription factor access to DNA.

Coiled-Coil Domain Containing 25 (CCDC25) is a 208 amino acid protein belonging to the CCDC25 family.

NADH Dehydrogenase 1 Beta Subcomplex 4 (NDUFB4) is a member of the complex I NDUFB4 subunit family. NDUFB4 is a non-catalytic subunit of the multisubunit NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, which is the first enzyme complex in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (complex I). Mammalian complex I is comprised of 45 different subunits and transfers electrons from NADH to ubiquinone.

Obg-like ATPase 1 (OLA1) acts as a negative regulator of the cellular antioxidant response independent of transcriptional processes. OLA1 curbs the antioxidant response via nontranscriptional mechanisms. OLA1 hydrolyzes ATP, and can also hydrolyze GTP with lower efficiency. OLA1 is clearly down-regulated by DNA damage-inducing agents. OLA1 is expressed in all tissues; however it is more abundant in the testis, liver, lung, and brain. OLA1 is overexpressed in a number of malignancies, including cancers of the colon, rectum, ovary, lung, stomach, and uterus.

BLVRB (EC 1.3.1.24) catalyzes electron transfer from reduced pyridine nucleotides to flavins as well as methylene blue, pyrroloquinoline quinone, riboflavin, or methemoglobin. BLVRB is involved in protecting cells from oxidative damage or in regulating iron metabolism. BLVRB converts biliverdin to bilirubin in the liver, converting a double-bond between the second and third pyrrole ring into a single-bond. BLVRB plays a role as in human erythrocytic heme catabolic pathway and most mammalian species. Biliverdin reductase is abundantly expressed in kidney, spleen, liver and brain as well as at lower levels in the thymus and minimal levels being detected in testis.

PRTN3 is a polymorphonuclear leukocyte serine protease which degrades elastin, fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, and collagen types I, III, and IV (in vitro) and causes emphysema once managed by tracheal insufflation to hamsters.

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.

L-threonine to glycine degradation consists of a two-step biochemical pathway which involvs the enzymes L-threonine dehydrogenase and 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate coenzyme A ligase. L-Threonine is initially converted into 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate by L-threonine dehydrogenase. Glycine C-Acetyltransferase (GCAT) is the 2nd enzyme in this pathway, which subsequently catalyzes the reaction between 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate and coenzyme A to form glycine and acetyl-CoA. The GCAT enzyme is regard as a class II pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase. GCAT is strongly expressed in the heart, brain, liver and pancreas. GCAT is also found in lung.

AMPD2 is significant in purine metabolism by converting AMP to IMP. AMPD2 which functions as a homotetramer, is one of the three AMP deaminases shown in mammals. More than a few transcript variants encoding differentisoforms have been discovered for AMPD2.

Ectonucleoside Triphosphate Diphosphohydrolase 3, also known as ENTPD3, which owns a threefold preference for the hydrolysis of ATP over ADP is similar to E-type nucleotidases (NTPases). ENTPD3 is a protein coding gene which contains four apyrase-conserved areas which is characteristic of NTPases.

Cytokeratin 8 (KRT8) belongs to the type II keratin family clustered on the long arm of chromosome 12. Type I and type II keratins heteropolymerize to form intermediate-sized filaments in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. KRT8 typically dimerizes with keratin 18 to form an intermediate filament in simple single-layered epithelial cells. KRT8 has a role in retaining cellular structural integrity and also functions in signal transduction and cellular differentiation. KRT8 gene mutations cause cryptogenic cirrhosis.

NQO2 is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the 2-electron reduction of diverse quinones, redox dyes, and the vitamin K menadione. NQO2 mainly uses dihydronicotinamide riboside (NRH) as the electron donor. NQO2 catalyzes the metabolic detoxification of quinones and their derivatives to hydroquinones. This detoxification process protects cells against quinone-induced oxidative stress, cytotoxicity and mutagenicity.