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POGLUT1 is a homologue of Rumi from Drosophila, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-retaining glucosyltransferase which catalyzes the transfer of glucose and xylose from UDP-glucose and UDP-xylose, respectively, to EGF repeats on the consensus sequence C-X-S-X-P-C. POGLUT1 positively regulates Notch signaling without affecting Notch ligand binding.

Streptavidin is a tetrameric protein secreted by Streptomyces avidinii which binds firmly to biotin. Streptavidin is wilyde used in molecular biology through its unique high affinity for the vitamin biotin. The dissociation constant (Kd) of the biotin-streptavidin complex is about ~10-15 mol/L. The strong affinity recognition of biotin and biotinylated molecules has made streptavidin one of the most important components in diagnostics and laboratory kits. The streptavidin/biotin system has one of the biggest free energies of association of yet observed for noncovalent binding of a protein and small ligand in aqueous solution (K_assoc = 10**14). The complexes are also extremely stable over a wide range of temperature and pH.

Vimentin expression in human malignant glioma cells depends on cellular density, algorithms of drug delivery and chemo/radio treatment. Vimentin and detyrosinated microtubules provide structural support for the extensive microtentacles observed in detached tumor cells and a mechanism to promote successful metastatic spread. Primary colorectal carcinomas display aberrant expression of vimentin, and have activated Notch and TGFbeta signaling pathways. Vimentin is a strong arterial substrate for transglutaminases. Transglutaminase-mediated vimentin dimerization results in a novel unifying pathway by which vasodilatory and remodeling responses may be regulated. Ablation of vimentin expression inhibits migration and invasion of colon and breast cancer cell lines. Vimentin is the main intermediate filament protein in mesenchymal cells and is therefore of value in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type N (PTPRN) is a catalytically inactive protein and a major target of autoimmune response in diabetes mellitus. The long C-terminal intracellular tail covers the majority of autoantibody epitopes. PTPRN is expressed in neural, neuroendocrine and pancreatic islet cells.

ALAD form porphobilinogen (a precursor of heme, cytochromes and other hemoproteins) by catalyzing the compression of 2 molecules of delta-aminolevulinate. ALAD catalyzes the second step in the porphyrin and heme biosynthetic pathway; zinc is vital for enzymatic activity. ALAD has 8 identical subunits and its enzymatic activity is inhibited by lead. Mutations in the ALAD structural gene are the source for high sensitivity to lead poisoning and acute hepatic porphyria.

Vimentin expression in human malignant glioma cells depends on cellular density, algorithms of drug delivery and chemo/radio treatment. Vimentin and detyrosinated microtubules provide structural support for the extensive microtentacles observed in detached tumor cells and a mechanism to promote successful metastatic spread. Primary colorectal carcinomas display aberrant expression of vimentin, and have activated Notch and TGFbeta signaling pathways. Vimentin is a strong arterial substrate for transglutaminases. Transglutaminase-mediated vimentin dimerization results in a novel unifying pathway by which vasodilatory and remodeling responses may be regulated. Ablation of vimentin expression inhibits migration and invasion of colon and breast cancer cell lines. Vimentin is the main intermediate filament protein in mesenchymal cells and is therefore of value in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms.

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.

PAPPA is a large zinc binding protein, which plays a role as a metalloprotease and specifically cleaves IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5, resulting in release of bound IGF. PAPP-A regulates IGF bioactivity in various biological systems, including the human ovary and cardiovascular systems. PAPP A levels were higher in patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction. PAPPA is also involved in local proliferative processes such as wound healing and bone remodeling. Moreover, PAPP-A is produced in high concentrations during pregnancy and is released into the maternal circulation. In placenta, PAPP A is expressed in X cells in septa and anchoring villi, and in syncytiotrophoblasts in the chorionic villi.

S100A9 is part of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100A9 protein is localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a wide range of cells, and participates in the regulation of several cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100 genes include no less than 13 proteins which are localized as a cluster on chromosome 1q21. S100A9 is involved in the inhibition of casein kinase and altered expression of this protein is associated with the disease cystic fibrosis.

Oncostatin M is a member of a cytokine family that includes leukemia-inhibitory factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin 6. This gene encodes a growth regulator which inhibits the proliferation of a number of tumor cell lines. It regulates cytokine production, including IL-6, G-CSF and GM-CSF from endothelial cells.

Maltose Binding Protein is a member of the maltose/maltodextrin system of E.Coli, which is accountable for the uptake and efficient catabolism of maltodextrins. The maltose/maltodextrin is a complex regulatory and transport system involving many proteins and protein complexes.
MBP elevates the yield of its fusion partner in many cases and is often able to promote the solubility of polypeptides to which it is fused.

C3 is central to the activation of all 3 pathways of complement activation. Initiation of each pathway generates proteolytic enzyme complexes which binds the target surface. These enzymes cleave a peptide bond in C3 releasing the anaphylatoxin C3a and activating C3b. Most of the C3 activated during complement activation never attaches to the surface due to its thioester reaction with water forming fluid phase C3b which is rapidly inactivated by factors H and I forming iC3b. Surface-bound C3b is necessary in all 3 pathways for efficient activation of C5 and formation of C5b-9 complexes that lyse the target cell membrane.

Coagulation factor VIII participates in the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation; factor VIII is a cofactor for factor IXa which, in the presence of Ca+2 and phospholipids, converts factor X to the activated form Xa. This gene produces two alternatively spliced transcripts. Transcript variant 1 encodes a large glycoprotein, isoform a, which circulates in plasma and associates with von Willebrand factor in a noncovalent complex. This protein undergoes multiple cleavage events. Transcript variant 2 encodes a putative small protein, isoform b, which consists primarily of the phospholipid binding domain of factor VIIIc. This binding domain is essential for coagulant activity. Defects in this gene results in hemophilia A, a common recessive X-linked coagulation disorder.

Beta-crystallin A4 (CRYBA4) is a member of the beta/gamma-crystallin family which are the dominant structural components of the vertebrate eye lens. Beta-crystallins construct aggregates of various sizes and are able to self-associate to form dimers or to form heterodimers with other beta-crystallins. The CRYBA4 gene being a beta acidic group member is part of a gene cluster with beta-B1, beta-B2, and beta-B3.

DBI, also known as Acyl-CoA-binding protein isoform 2, is a diazepam binding inhibitor, which is regulated by hormones. DBI participates in lipid metabolism and in the displacement of beta-carbolines & benzodiazepines, which modulate signal transduction at type A gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors located in brain synapses. Moreover, during adipocyte differentiation the expression of DBI is significantly induced. DBI preforms as an acyl-CoA pool former and regulates LCFA (long-chain fatty acids) metabolism in peripheral tissues.

Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important signaling protein involved in both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. As its name implies, VEGF activity has been mostly studied on cells of the vascular endothelium, although it does have effects on a number of other cell types (e.g. stimulation monocyte/ macrophagemigration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells ).VEGF mediates increased vascular permeability, induces angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial cell growth, promotes cell migration, and inhibits apoptosis. In vitro, VEGF has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesisand cell migration. VEGF is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor.
Elevated levels of this protein are linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Candida albicans is a diploid fungus, which grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a contributory agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans, and candidal onychomycosis (an infection of the nail plate). Systemic fungal infections (fungemias) including those by C. albicans are regarded as key causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients (e.g., AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplantation). C. albicans biofilms may develop on the surface of implantable medical devices. C. albicans is commensal and a constituent of the normal gut flora containing microorganisms which live in the human mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Overgrowth of the fungus leads to in candidiasis (candidosis). Candidiasis is frequently detected in immunocompromised persons, including HIV-infected patients. To infect host tissue, the habitual unicellular yeast-like form of C. albicans reacts to environmental signals and changes into an invasive, multicellular filamentous form, a phenomenon which is known as dimorphism.

Transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFRC) is required for iron delivery from transferring to cells. The TFRC protein is a transmembrane glycoprotein comprised of 2 disulfide-linked monomers joined by 2 disulfide bonds. Each monomer will bind one holo-transferrin molecule producing an iron-Tf-TfR complex which enters the cell by endocytosis.