Search results

Cathepsins B, C, H, L, S, V, X/Z/P and 1 are cysteine proteases of the papain family. Cathepsin C is also known as DPPI (dipeptidyl-peptidase I). Cathepsin A is a serine carboxypeptidase and Cathepsin D and E are aspartic proteases. As lysosomal proteases, cathepsins play an important role in protein degradation. Because of their redistribution or increased levels in human and animal tumors, cathepsins may have a role in invasion and metastasis. Cathepsins are synthesized as inactive proenzymes and processed to become mature and active enzymes. Endogenous protein inhibitors, such as cystatins and some serpins, inhibit active enzymes.

Interleukin-1b is produced by activated macrophages, IL-1B stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing il-2 release, b-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL1B 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.

EPCAM is a carcinoma-associated antigen and belongs to a family which includes at least 2 type I membrane proteins. The EPCAM protein has a role in embryonic stem cells proliferation and differentiation. EPCAM is used as a target for immunotherapy treatment of human carcinomas. EPCAM is expressed on most normal epithelial cells and gastrointestinal carcinomas and acts as a homotypic calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule. Epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EPCAM) can act as a physical homophilic interaction molecule between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) at the mucosal epithelium for supplying immunological barrier as a first line of defense against mucosal infection. EPCAM gene mutations result in congenital tufting enteropathy.

Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a 32kDa proinflammatory cytokine that may also regulate gene transcription in producer cells. IL-33 is structurally related to IL-1, which induces helper T cells to produce type 2 cytokines and acts through the receptor IL1RL-1 (IL1 receptor-like-1), which is known also as ST2. Binding of IL-33 to this receptor activates NF-kappa-B and MAP kinases and induces in vitro Th2 cells to produce cytokines. In vivo, IL-33 induces expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and leads to severe pathological changes in mucosal organs and in vitro, it can be divided to N-terminal fragment of 12kDa and C-terminal fragment of 18kDa by cleavage of caspase-1.

Myeloid differentiation antigen Gr1 (Ly6G) is a GPI-anchored protein, which is briefly expressed on monocytes in the bone marrow. The level of the Ly6G expression in the bone marrow completely correlates with granulocyte differentiation and maturation. Ly6G ligation on murine neutrophils inhibits neutrophil recruitment, thus providing the first evidence of a function for the Ly6G molecule. Ly6G is seen primarily on neutrophils, also in a subgroup of eosinophils, differentiating pre-monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

IL-32 is part of the cytokine family and contains a tyrosine sulfation site, 3 potential N-myristoylation sites, multiple putative phosphorylation sites, and an RGD cell-attachment sequence. IL-32 expression is elevated after the activation of T-cells by mitogens or the activation of NK cells by IL-2. IL-32 induces the production of TNF-a from macrophage cells. IL-32 pro-inflammatory pathway is activated in response to influenza A virus infection. Dysregulation of IL-32 in myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia modulates apoptosis and impairs NK function.
Induction of TNF, IL-1beta, and IL-6 by IL-32 is intervened by p38-MAPK. IL-32 induced monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation is mediated through nonapoptotic, caspase-3-dependent mechanisms. IL32 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. IL-32 is involved in activation-induced cell death in T cells, through its intracellular actions. IL-32 is a cell-associated proinflammatory cytokine, which is particularly stimulated by mycobacteria through a caspase-1- and IL-18-dependent production of interferon gamma.
IL-32 is associated with TNF-a, IL-1beta, and IL-18. IL32 is involved in human rheumatoid arthritis and is a novel target in autoimmune diseases.

CNTF is a polypeptide hormone whose actions appear to be restricted to the nervous system where it promotes neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth in certain neuronal populations. The protein is a potent survival factor for neurons and oligodendrocytes and may be relevant in reducing tissue destruction during inflammatory attacks. A mutation in this gene, which results in aberrant splicing, leads to ciliary neurotrophic factor deficiency, but this phenotype is not causally related to neurologic disease. In addition to the predominant monocistronic transcript originating from this locus, the gene is also co-transcribed with the upstream ZFP91 gene. Co-transcription from the two loci results in a transcript that contains a complete coding region for the zinc finger protein but lacks a complete coding region for ciliary neurotrophic factor.
CNTF is a survival factor for various neuronal cell types. Seems to prevent the degeneration of motor axons after axotomy.

CD3 has four peptide chains (gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta) that form CD3. Defects in CD3 are associated with T cell immunodeficiency CD3 complex mediates signal transduction.

The IL-6 receptor complex is composed of two membrane glycoproteins: the low affinity receptor and the signaltransducing component. The soluble form of IL6R is found in the urine of healthy adult humans and the serum of HIV positive individuals, as well as in the cell culture supernatants of stimulated PBMC’s. This soluble form of IL6R results from either proteolytic cleavage from the membrane, or an isoform derived splice variant.

Calnexin (CANX) belongs to the calnexin family of molecular chaperones. Calnexin is a calcium-binding, ER-associated protein that interacts briefly with newly synthesized N-linked glycoproteins, facilitating protein folding and assembly. Calnexin may also have a key role in the quality control of protein folding by retaining incorrectly folded protein subunits within the ER for degradation. Calnexin grants long-term protection of wild-type Shaker protein from ER-associated degradation. Polypeptide substrate recognition by Calnexin requires specific conformations of the Calnexin protein. Calnexin dwindles with aging and might contribute to a cytoprotection in an array of human age-related diseases.

Calmodulin (CaM) is an intracellular receptor protein for Ca2+-ions. It activates the myosin light chain kinase which is the catalyst of myosin phosphorylation. CaM participates in the activation of enzymes such as cyclic nucleotide- dependent phosphodiesterase, calcineurin, ATPase, Myosin Light Chain Kinases, and CAM kinase.

α-Synuclein (amino acids 1-140), an acidic neuronal protein of 140 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant and is natively unfolded with an extended structure primarily composed of random coils. α-synuclein has been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and more recently, to be an important regulatory component of vesicular transport in neuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies have shown that α-synuclein has chaperone activity and that this activity is lost upon removing its C-terminal acidic tail (amino acids 96-140).

ACTN1 encodes a nonmuscle, cytoskeletal, alpha actinin isoform and maps to the same site as the structurally similar erythroid beta spectrin gene. Alpha actinins belong to the spectrin gene superfamily which represents a diverse group of cytoskeletal proteins, including the alpha and beta spectrins and dystrophins. Alpha actinin is an actin-binding protein with multiple roles in different cell types. In nonmuscle cells, the cytoskeletal isoform is found along microfilament bundles and adherens-type junctions, where it is involved in binding actin to the membrane. In contrast, skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle isoforms are localized to the Z-disc and analogous dense bodies, where they help anchor the myofibrillar actin filaments.

HCV is a small 50nm, enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNA virus in the family Flaviviridae.
HCV has a high rate of replication with approximately one trillion particles produced each day in an infected individual. Due to lack of proofreading by the HCV RNA polymerase, the HCV has an exceptionally high mutation rate, a factor that may help it elude the host's immune response. Hepatitis C virus is classified into six genotypes (1-6) with several subtypes within each genotype. The preponderance and distribution of HCV genotypes varies globally. Genotype is clinically important in determining potential response to interferon-based therapy and the required duration of such therapy. Genotypes 1 and 4 are less responsive to interferon-based treatment than are the other genotypes (2, 3, 5 and 6).

CD28 co-stimulation is necessary for CD4 positive T-cell proliferation & survival, interleukin-2 production, and T-helper type-2 development. Human post-thymic regulatory T cells require CD28 co-stimulation to expand and maintain potent suppressive function in vivo. Apoptosis plays a key role in the age-related decline of CD28 expression and in immunosenescence.

AHA1 is a cochaperone that stimulates hsp90 ATPase activity. AHSA1 binds the middle domain of Hsp90 (amino acid 272-627) and functions as an ATPase-activating protein that competes with p23 and other co-chaperones for Hsp90 binding.
AHA1 affects a step in the endoplasmic reticulum to golgi trafficking.

GLUL catalyzes the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonia. Glutamine is a major source of energy and that takes part in cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and cell signaling. GLUL is expressed during early fetal stages, and has a role in maintaining body pH by removing ammonia from circulation. Mutations in GLUL gene are related with congenital glutamine deficiency.

FABP7 is a brain fatty acid binding protein. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are a family of small, highly conserved, cytoplasmic proteins that bind long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. FABPs are are inovlved in fatty acid uptake, transport, and metabolism. FABP7 is expressed in radial glia by the activation of Notch receptors and binds DHA with the highest affinity among all of FABPs. FABP7 plays an important role in transport of hydrophobic ligand with potential morphogenic activity during cns development. FABP7 is required for the establishment of the radial glial fiber system in developing brain, a system that is necessary for the migration of immature neurons to establish cortical layers (by similarity).

Midkine (MK) is the product of a retinoic acid responsive gene. It contains 121 amino acid residues including 10 conserved cysteine residues, all of which appear to be disulphide linked.
Midkine is expressed during embryogenesis, showing an expression pattern that suggests functions in neurogenesis, cell migration, secondary organogenetic induction, and mesoderm-epithelial interaction.
The widespread downregulation of MK in the adult human is reverted in a number of cancers, in which polypeptides are able to act as both transforming growth factors and promoters of angiogenesis.
Midkine (MK), induces chemotaxis of human neutrophils and was found to trigger mobilization of intracellular calcium of these cells.
Midkine induces histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells with a rapid response in a dose dependent manner.
Midkine is also a potent stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

DUSP3 belongs to the dual specificity protein phosphatase subfamily which inactivates their target kinases by dephosphorylating both the phosphoserine/threonine and phosphotyrosine residues. DUSP3 negatively regulate members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase superfamily that are related to cellular proliferation and differentiation. DUSP3 is expressed in both breast and ovarian tissues and displays activity both for tyrosine-protein phosphate and serine-protein phosphate, but exhibits a strong preference toward phosphotyrosines, specifically dephosphorylates and inactivates ERK1 and ERK2.

FCGR1A is a member of to the immunoglobulin superfamily. FCGR1A protein acts as a high affinity receptor for the Fc region of immunoglobulins gamma and has a vital part in both innate and adaptive immune response.

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.

CCR6 belongs to the beta chemokine receptor family, which is predicted to be a 7 transmembrane protein similar to G protein-coupled receptors. CCR6 is preferentially expressed by immature dendritic cells and memory T cells. The ligand of CCR6 receptor is macrophage inflammatory protein 3 alpha (MIP-3 alpha). CCR6 receptor has been shown to be vital for B-lineage maturation and antigen-driven B-cell differentiation, and it may regulate the migration and recruitment of dentritic and T cells during inflammatory and immunological responses.

Thymine-DNA glycosylase (TDG) is a member of the TDG/mug DNA glycosylase family.
TDG is a nuclear protein that fixes G/T mismatches to G/C pairs by hydrolyzing the carbon-nitrogen bond between the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA and the mispaired thymin. In addition, TDG removes uracil and 5-bromouracil from mispairings with guanine. The TDG enzyme has an essential role in cellular defense against genetic mutation triggered by the spontaneous deamination of 5-methylcytosine and cytosine.