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FAM50A is a member of the FAM50 family. FAM50A is highly conserved in length and sequence among numerous species. FAM50A is a basic protein comprised of a nuclear localization signal, and can function as a DNA-binding protein or a transcriptional factor. FAM50A expressed in all tissues mainly abundant in fetal brain, liver and kidney. High levels of FAM50A were observed in the adult's skeletal muscle, spleen, thymus, prostate and the small intestine.

Natriuretic Peptide A (NPPA) is a part of the natriuretic peptide family and is involved in cardiovascular homeostasis through regulation of natriuresis, diuresis, and vasodilation. NPPA is synthesized as a great precursor which releases a peptide from the N-terminus with similarity to vasoactive peptide, cardiodilatin, and another peptide from the C-terminus with natriuretic-diuretic activity. In female pregnancy, NPPA is promoting trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling in uterus.

The FGFs are a family of more than 20 small (~17–26 kDa) secreted peptides. The initial characterization of these proteins focused on their ability to stimulate fibroblast proliferation. This mitogenic activity was mediated through FGF receptors (FGFRs) 1, 2, or 3. A fourth closely related tyrosine kinase receptor (FGFR4) was able to bind the FGFs but did not lead to a mitogenic response.
FGFs modulate cellular activity via at least 5 distinct subfamilies of high-affinity FGF receptors (FGFRs): FGFR-1, -2, -3, and -4, all with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and, except for FGFR-4, multiple splice isoforms, and FGFR-5, which lacks an intracellular kinase domain. There is growing evidence that FGFRs can be important for regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis. The overexpression of a dominant negative form of FGFR-1 in ? cells leads to diabetes in mice, which thus implies that proper FGF signaling is required for normal ? cell function and glycemia maintenance. FGFR-2 appears to be a key molecule during pancreatic development. Moreover, FGFR-4 has been implicated in cholesterol metabolism and bile acid synthesis.
FGF-19, has been shown to cause resistance to diet-induced obesity and insulin desensitization and to improve insulin, glucose, and lipid profiles in diabetic rodents. Since these effects, at least in part, are mediated through the observed changes in metabolic rates, FGF-19 can be considered as a regulator of energy expenditure.
FGF-21 is preferentially expressed in liver, but an exact knowledge of FGF-21 bioactivity and its mode of action have been lacking to date. FGF-21 is a potent activator of glucose uptake on adipocytes, protects animals from diet-induced obesity when overexpressed in transgenic mice, and lowers blood glucose and triglyceride levels when therapeutically administered to diabetic rodents.

GDF10 is a member of the BMP family and the TGF-beta superfamily. GDF10 is expressed in femur, brain, lung, skeletal, muscle, pancreas and testis, and has a role in head formation and possibly multiple roles in skeletal morphogenesis. In humans, GDF10 mRNA is found in the cochlea and lung of fetuses, and in testis, retina, pineal gland, and other neural tissues of adults. The BMP family members are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. These proteins are characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing 7 conserved cysteine residues.

Milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 protein (Mfge8) is pleiotropic secreted glycoprotein which promotes mammary gland morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. Mfge8 has also an imperative role in tissue homeostasis and the prevention of inflammation. Mfge8 functions as a bridge between phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells and Integrin alpha V beta 3 on phagocytes, leading to the clearance of apoptotic debris.

HIF1A has a role as a master transcriptional monitor of the adaptive response to hypoxia. Under hypoxic conditions HIF1A activates the transcription of over 40 genes, including, erythropoietin, glucose transporters, glycolytic enzymes, vascular endothelial growth factor, and genes whose protein products increase oxygen release or facilitate metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. HIF1A functions as an essential role in embryonic vascularization, tumor angiogenesis and pathophysiology of ischemic disease.

NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 alpha subcomplex subunit 5 (NDUFA5) is a member of the complex I NDUFA5 subunit family. The human NDUFA5 gene codes for the B13 subunit of complex I of the respiratory chain that transfers electrons from NADH to ubiquinone. The NDUFA5 protein localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane as part of the seven component-containing, water soluble 'iron-sulfur protein' (IP) fraction of complex I, even though its exact role is undetermined.

Family with Sequence Similarity 3, Member A (FAM3A) is a member of the FAM3 family along with FAM3B (Pander) protein which induces apoptosis of pancreatic alpha and beta cells. FAM3A is a cytokine-like protein, which is expressed in almost all tissues such as the testis, pancreas, adrenal, placenta, brain, fetal brain, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle and the heart. FAM3A gene expression may be regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and the FAM3A protein might be involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Although the function of the FAM3A protein has been unclear until now, it may act as a defensin against invading fungal microorganisms.

FAM3C is a member of the FAM3 family and holds a GG domain. Pancreatic cancer-derived cells demonstrate a difference in expression of this protein. FAM3C is a downstream target gene for the Nkx5-1 transcription factor, and there for takes part in cell differentiation and proliferation through inner ear embryogenesis. In addition, FAM3C has a role in retinal laminar formation and promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Pregnancy Specific Beta-1-Glycoprotein 1 (PSG1) is a member of a subgroup of transcription factors which are phosphorylated upon binding to promoter sequences. PSGs belong to the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family and function as early biochemical markers of syncytiotrophoblast formation. Furthermore, PSG1 is assumed to mediate placental vascular morphogenesis by enhancing VEGF-A production and endothelial tube formation. PSG1 is a major product of the syncytiotrophoblast, reaching concentrations of 100- 290 mg/l at term in the serum of pregnant women.

RABIF is a guanine-nucleotide-releasing protein is involved in vesicular transport. RABIF stimulates GTP-GDP exchange in Sec4 and Rab and binds to a subset of genetically related Rab proteins.

DNA-3-methyladenine glycosylase (MPG) is a member of the DNA glycosylase MPG family. MPG initiates base excision repair in DNA by removing a wide variety of alkylated, deaminated, and lipid peroxidation-induced purine adducts.

Intrinsic Factor is a member of the cobalamin transport protein family. It encodes a glycoprotein secreted by parietal cells of the gastric mucosa and is required for adequate absorption of vitamin B12 in the terminal ileum. Vitamin B12 is essential for erythrocyte maturation and mutations in the Intrinsic Factor may lead to congenital pernicious anemia. Upon entry into the stomach, vitamin B12 binds to one of two B12 binding proteins present in the gastric fluid. In the less acidic environment of the small intestine, these proteins dissociate from the vitamin, allowing it to bind to intrinsic factor and enter the portal circulation through a receptor in the ileal mucosa specific for the B12-intrinsic factor complex.

ETS homologous factor (EHF) is a part of the ESE subfamily of Ets transcription factors. Ets factors are an important kind of transcriptional regulators which take part in hema-topoiesis, angiogenesis, organogenesis, oncogenesis and specification of neuronal connectivity. EHF is expressed solely in a subset of epithelial cells, with highest expression noticed in glandular epithelium of the prostate, pancreas, salivary gland and trachea. EHF transactivates the c-Met promoter via 3 high affinity binding sites, which support the notion that EHF contribute to branching morphogenesis.

Oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMG) is a cell membrane protein which contains 8 leucine-rich repeats. The OMG protein is expressed on the surface of oligodendrocytes and on large projection neurons, including Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, motoneurons of the brainstem and anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. The neurite outgrowth inhibitory activities of all three myelin-derived proteins are mediated by binding to a joint receptor complex consisting of the Nogo receptor and the p75 neurotrophin receptor.

Leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) is the receptor for leukemia inhibitory factor, a pleiotropic cytokine affecting the differentiation, survival, and proliferation of various cells in the adult and the embryo. LIFR plays an imperative role in a number of aspects of early pregnancy such as blastocyst implantation in the uterus.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), identified as one of the transcription factors, has been found to play an essential role in cellular and systemic oxygen homeostasis. HIF-1 is a heterodimer composed of HIF-1b subunit and one of three subunits (Hif-1a, Hif-2 (or Hif-3)). The activation of Hif-1 (is closely associated with a variety of tumors and oncogenic pathways. Hif-1 (consists of DNA binding domain (DBD domain), Dimerization domain and C-terminal regulatory domains, including two transactivation domains (TAD), an oxygen-dependent degradation (ODD) domain, and inhibitory domains. Under hypoxic conditions HIF1A activates the transcription of more than 40 genes, including, erythropoietin, glucose transporters, glycolytic enzymes, VEGF, and other genes whose protein products increase oxygen delivery or facilitate metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. HIF-1A also plays a crucial role in embryonic vascularization, tumor angiogenesis and pathophysiology of ischemic disease. It binds to core DNA sequence 5'-[AG]CGTG-3' within the hypoxia response element (HRE) of target gene promoters. Activation involves recruitment of transcriptional coactivators such as CREBPB and EP300. Its activity is improved by interaction with both, NCOA1 or NCOA2. Interaction with redox regulatory protein APEX appears to activate CTAD and potentiates activation by NCOA1 and CREBBP. The induction is under reduced oxygen tension. HIF1A is also induced by a variety of receptor-mediated factors such as growth factors, cytokines, and circulatory factors for example PDGF, EGF, FGF-2, IGF-2, TGF-1 beta, HGF, TNF alpha, IL-1 beta, angiotensin-2 and thrombin. Nevertheless, this induction is less intense than that stimulated by hypoxia.

Dickkopf-related protein 3 (DKK3) belongs to the DKK protein family including Dkk-1, 2, 3 and -4. DKK3 is a 350 amino acid secreted glycoprotein which is comprised of an N-terminal signal peptide and 2 conserved cysteine-rich domains that are separated by a 12 amino acid linker region. DKK3 is involved in embryonic development through its inhibition of the WNT signaling pathway. DKK3 gene expression is decreased in a variety of cancer cell lines and it may act as a tumor suppressor gene.

NDUFS4 is a subunit of the mitochondrial membrane respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I), the primary multi-subunit enzyme complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Complex I is involved in cellular ATP production, the main source of energy for numerous vital processes in living cells. NDUFS4 removes electrons from NADH and passes them by a series of diverse protein-coupled redox centers to the electron acceptor ubiquinone. NDUFS4 presents a hotspot of mutations in the genetic apparatus of oxidative phosphorylation and the correct assembly of the subunit it encodes is essential for completion of the assembly of complex I.

SNUPN is a nuclear import adaptor protein which is part of the Snurportin family.
SNUPN is Localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus and contains an N-terminal IBB domain and a trimethylguanosine (m3G)-cap binding domain. SNUPN binds specifically the terminal 2,2,7-m3G-cap at the 5'' end of U snRNPs and is involved in transport of U snRNPs into the nucleus through an association with Importin β.

IGFBP1 is a member of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family and encodes a protein with an IGFBP domain and a thyroglobulin type-I domain. The protein binds both insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) I and II and circulates in the plasma. Binding of this protein prolongs the half-life of the IGFs and alters their interaction with cell surface receptors. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized.

IGFBP3 is a member of the IGFBP family and encodes a protein with an IGFBP domain and a thyroglobulin type-I domain. The protein forms a ternary complex with IGFALS and either IGF I or II. In this form, it circulates in the plasma, prolonging the half-life of IGFs and altering their interaction with cell surface receptors. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized.

Family with Sequence Similarity 49, Member B (FAM49B) is a member of the FAM49 family. In the latest genome-wide transcriptional analysis, a gene signature was identified for multiple sclerosis (MS), which reverted back to normal during pregnancy. The reversion was mostly evident for seven genes: SOCS2, TNFAIP3, NR4A2, CXCR4, POLR2J, FAM49B, and STAG3L1, most of which are negative regulators of inflammation.

Fibroblast growth factor 13 (FGF-13) is a member of the large FGF family which has at least 23 members. Most of its members are binding growth factors with a core 120 amino acid (aa) FGF domain which allows for a mutual tertiary structure. Human and mouse FGF13 are 245 aa proteins which arise from genes that show N-terminal alternative splicing. Transcripts for 245 aa, 199 aa, 226 aa, 192 aa and 255 aa have been identified in human and mouse, with almost complete cross-species aa identity among all splice forms (greater than 98%). FGF13 is identified in the fetal ependyma, dorsal root and cranial ganglia, both atrial and ventricular myocardium, and in renal collecting duct-associated mesenchyme.