Search results

FABP multigene family has almost 20 known members. FABPs are divided into 3 different types: hepatic, intestinal and cardiac which form 14-15 kDa proteins that take part in the uptake, intracellular metabolism and/or transport of long-chain fatty acids. FABPs are involved in the modulation of cell growth and proliferation. Intestinal FABP (FABP2) gene has a polymorphism at codon 54 that identified an alanine-encoding allele and a threonine-encoding allele. Thr-54 protein is associated with increased fat oxidation and resistance. High serum levels of FABP2 is ulcerative colitis indicates ileitis. FABP2 is has part in triglyceride-rich lipoprotein synthesis. FABP2 binds saturated long-chain fatty acids with a high affinity, but binds with a lower affinity to unsaturated long- chain fatty acids. FABP2 helps maintain energy homeostasis by functioning as a lipid sensor.

Tachykinin-3 belongs to the substance P-related tachykinin family. Tachykinins are active peptides that stimulate neurons, induce behavioral responses, are effective vasodilators and secretagogues, and contract (directly or indirectly) many smooth muscles. TAC3 and its receptor are essential switches of regulator of human puberty, regulated by the brain through the release of the GnRH which starts a chain of processes which eventually lead to the production of sex hormones.
During pregnancy, the expression of TAC3 is restricted to the outer syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta, significant concentrations of TAC3 can be identified in plasma as early as week 9, and plasma concentrations of TAC3 are grossly elevated in pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Higher Tachykinin-3 concentrations in normotensive pregnant women may be caused by the advanced gestational age and/or the result of a negative interaction of other vasoactive substances. TAC3 has a role in the continuance of high placental blood flow in normal pregnancy.

The term ‘PDGF’ refers to a family of disulphide bond-linked dimeric isoforms that act as autocrine and paracrine growth factors and are produced by a variety of cell types other than platelets.They act as potent mitogens for almost all mesenchymally-derived cells. Aberrant expression is involved in certain cancers, fibroproliferative disorders and atherosclerosis. The protein also contributes to wound healing and neural regeneration. There are four members of the PDGF family – PDGF A, PDGF B, PDGF C and PDGF D. Two distinct types of PDGF-A exist – a short form that is soluble and a long form that is retained by the extracellular matrix.

Capping Protein (Actin Filament) Muscle Z-Line, Alpha 2 also known as CAPZA2 belongs the F-actin capping protein alpha subunit family. It is the alpha subunit of the barbed-end actin binding protein Cap Z. By capping the barbed end of actin filaments, Cap Z regulates the growth of the actin filaments at the barbed end. Among the diseases associated with CAPZA2 are endocarditis, and cervicitis.

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

CCS is vital for the integration of copper into SOD-1, and as a result is needed for its enzymatic activity. CCS inhibits copper ions from binding to intracellular copper scavengers and provides the SOD-1 enzyme with the required copper cofactor. CCS escorts copper just to SOD-1 and is unable to deliver copper to proteins in the mitochondria, nucleus or secretory pathway. Although many tissues express CCS, the chaperone is most abundant in the kidney, liver and Purkinje cells in the neuropil of the central nervous system.

FSCN1 is an actin-bundling protein that is responsible for rigidity to filopodial bundles to efficiently push the membrane forward during cytoskeleton remodeling and cell migration. FSCN1 takes part in the gathering of actin filament bundles present in microspikes, membrane ruffles, and stress fibers. FSCN1 is absent from most normal epithelia though is upregulated in multiple forms of human carcinoma, where its expression associates clinically with a poor prognosis. FSCN1 expression is abundantly found in neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells.

Placenta-Specific 8 (PLAC8) is a member of the cornifelin family. The PLAC8 protein is expressed at high levels in the plasmacytoid dendritic cells, spleen, lymph nodes, peripheral blood leukocytes, and bone marrow.

KISS1 is a metastasis suppressor protein that suppresses metastases of melanomas and breast carcinomas without affecting tumorigenicity.KISS1 functions to inhibit chemotaxis and invasion, attenuating metastasis in malignant melanomas. KISS1 is involved in the regulation of cell-matrix adhesion. KISS1 plays a role in cytoskeletal reorganization. A polymorphism in the terminal exon of KISS1 mRNA results in two protein isoforms. Expression of KiSS1 is localized to specific regions of the hypothalamus in numerous species and is regulated by gonadal steroids and across the estrous cycle..KISS1 generates a c-terminally amidated peptide, metastin which functions as the endogenous ligand of the g-protein coupled receptor gpr54. Activation of the receptor inhibits cell proliferation and cell migration, key characteristics of tumor metastasis.

Translin is a DNA and RNA binding protein that identifies specifically preserved target sequences at the breakpoint junction of chromosomal translocations. TSN forms a ring-shaped configuration, that is in charge of DNA binding, and in addition has a leucine zipper motif, which is believed to assist TSN to form dimers. TSN exports specific mRNAs out of the nucleus, reinforced by its localization in both the nuclei and cytoplasm of neurons, and regulates their translation.

Galectins are a family of animal lectins with an affinity for beta-galactosides. This family has at least 14 identified members. Galectins share similarities in the CRD (the carbohydrate recognition domain). Galectins are synthesized as cytosolic proteins. Though localized principally in the cytoplasm and lacking a classical signal peptide, galectins can also be stimulated to secretion by non-classical pathways or alternatively targeted to the nucleus. Galectins are involved in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Human Galectin-7 belongs to the prototypical Galectins containing a single CRD, which is initially identified in human epidermis as a monomer. The Galectin-7 expression is induced by tumor suppressor protein p53 and associated with apoptosis. Galectin-7 is a pro-apoptotic protein which functions intracellularlly upstream of JNK activation and mitochondrial cytochrome c release. The correlation of Galectin-7 with the UV-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes presents a critical mechanism in the maintenance of epidermal homeostasis. Human Galectin-7 is localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm.

Lxn also known as Latexin is a member of the protease inhibitor I47 (latexin) family. Lxn's function is hardly reversible, non-competitive, as well as potent inhibitor of CPA1, CPA2 and CPA4. Furthermore, Lxn plays a role in inflammation. Among the diseases associated with LXN are endocervicitis and listeriosis.

MAFK is a member of the bZIP family and Maf subfamily. Members from Maf family of basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors influence transcription in a positive or negative way, depending on their protein associate and the context of the target promoter. Small Mafs act as transcriptional repressors when they dimerize among themselves. Yet, they seem to function as transcriptional activators by dimerizing with other basic-zipper proteins and employing them to specific DNA-binding sites.

VAMP3 is present in recycling endosomes and endosome-derived vesicles. VAMP3 has been implicated in recycling of transferrin receptors to the plasma membrane, secretion of alpha-granules in platelets, recycling of T-cell receptors to the immunological synapses, and membrane trafficking during cell migration. VAMP-3 is present in human platelets and necessary for granule secretion. Synaptobrevins are the main components of a protein complex involved in the docking and/or fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. VAMP3 high homology to other VAMPs in its broad tissue distribution and subcellular localization is shown to be the human equivalent of the rodent cellubrevin. In platelets the protein resides on a compartment that is not mobilized to the plasma membrane on calcium or thrombin stimulation.

Microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3 beta 2 (MAP1LC3B2) is a member of the MAP1LC3 family. MAP1LC3B2 is a subunit of neuronal microtubule-associated MAP1A and MAP1B proteins, which are involved in microtubule assembly and essential for neurogenesis. The MAP1LC3B2 protein is possibly involved in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles (autophagosomes). MAP1LC3B2 is expressed primarily in the heart, testis, brain and skeletal muscle.

RAB11A is part of the small GTPase superfamily, Rab family. RAB11A is related with both constitutive and regulated secretory pathways, and takes part in protein transport. RAB11A is a well-known marker for protein trafficking, sorting, and recycling in the endosomal pathway. RAB11A is a main regulator of membrane delivery during cytokinesis.

RAB27A is part of the small GTPase superfamily, Rab family. RAB27A is membrane-bound and participates in protein transport and small GTPase mediated signal transduction. Mutations in this RAB27A are associated with Griscelli syndrome type 2. RAB27A is involved in cytotoxic granule exocytosis in lymphocytes.RAB27A is necessary for both granule maturation and granule docking and priming at the immunologic synapse.

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.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice with experimentally induced allergic pulmonary inflammation contains a novel 9.4 kDa cysteine-rich secreted protein, RELM-alpha (FIZZ1, found in inflammatory zone). RELM-alpha is a secreted protein that has a restricted tissue distribution with highest levels in adipose tissue stroma. Murine RELM-alpha (FIZZ1) is the founding member of a new gene family including two other murine genes expressed, respectively, in intestinal crypt epithelium (RELM-beta) and white adipose tissue (Resistin), and two related human genes.
RELMalpha inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes but has no effect on proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. RELMalpha is able to form heterooligomers with resistin but not RELMbeta. Since RELMalpha is expressed by adipose tissue and it is a secreted factor, our findings suggest that RELMalpha may be involved in the control of the adipogenesis as well as in the process of muscle differentiation.
In the lung, RELM-alpha is induced by hypoxia and was renamed as hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF). HIMF strongly activated Akt phosphorylation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 (10 micromol/L) inhibited HIMF-activated Akt phosphorylation. It also inhibited HIMF stimulated RPSM proliferation. Thus, the PI3K/Akt pathway, at least in part, mediates the proliferative effect of HIMF. Further studies showed that HIMF had angiogenic and vasoconstrictive properties. HIMF increased pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance. Further studies suggest that HIMF regulates apoptosis and may participate in lung alveolarization and maturation.

RANKL binds to tnfrsf11b/opg and to tnfrsf11a/rank. Osteoclast differentiation and activation factor. Augments the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate naive t-cell proliferation. May be an important regulator of interactions between t-cells and dendritic cells and may play a role in the regulation of the t-cell-dependent immune response. sRANKL may also play an important role in enhanced bone-resorption in humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Protein A is a cell wall protein deriving from Staphylococcus aureus which exhibits unique binding properties for IgG from a variety of mammalian species and for some IgM and IgA as well. It binds with the Fc region of immunoglobulins through interaction with the heavy chain. It couples to a wide variety of reporter molecules including fluorescent dyes, enzyme markers, biotin, colloidal gold and radioactive iodine without affecting the antibody binding site. Recombinant Protein A was developed to increase the specificity of the molecule for IgG and is widely used both in research and bioprocessing. The recombinant protein A is produced by expressing a modified protein A gene in E.coli. A specific purification process with strict quality control was taken to get the recombinant protein A with the purity of more than 98% , no human IgG affinity step is used during validated fermentation and purification and devoid of bacterial contaminant found normally in native Protein A. (Free of Staphylococcus endotoxins and hemolysin).

Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 7 Member A3 or AKR7A3, is an enzyme, it is part of the detoxification of aldehydes and ketones process. AKR7A3 diminishes the dialdehyde protein-binding form of aflatoxin B1 to the non-binding AFB1 dialcohol. The enzyme takes partin protection of liver from toxic and carcinogenic effects of AFB1, a potent hepatocarcinogen.

Adaptor-related protein complex 1 associated regulatory protein (AP1AR) is essential for AP-1 dependent transport between the trans-Golgi network and endosomes. AP1AR regulates the membrane association of AP1G1/Gamma1-adaptin which is one of the subunits of the AP-1 adapter complex. AP1AR plays a role as effector of AP-1 in calcium-induced endo-lysosome secretion. The interaction with AP1G1/Gamma1-adaptin attenuates the release of the AP-1 complex from membranes.

BIN2, also known as Bridging Integrator 2, is a cytoplasmic protein. BIN2 comprises one BAR domain and Interacts with BIN1. BIN2 is highly expressed in some hematopoietic tissues, including peripheral blood, colon, thymus and placenta. BIN2 stimulates cell motility and migration, most likely through its interaction with the cell membrane and with podosome proteins which mediate interaction with the cytoskeleton and likewise modulates membrane curvature & mediates membrane tubulation.