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Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor Alpha or LIFR is a protein, part of the Interleukin-6 receptor group of proteins. As such, LIFR acts as a mediator for various proteins (IL-6, IL-11, IL-27, Oncostatin M etc). LIFR has many functions as a cytokine, he has an affect on the cell proliferation, differentiation and survival in the different stages of life. In different types of breast cancer LIFR is down regulated, and as such, can be used as a prognostic tool.

Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that belongs to the transferrin family of iron binding proteins. It is found in human breast milk as well as most epithelial surface secretions including tears, nasogastric, saliva, and bronchial. Lactoferrin binds 2 molecules of iron with very high affinity. Lactoferrin inhibits bacterial growth by withholding iron, its N-terminal region is an antimicrobial peptide. Lactotransferrin acts synergistically with lysozyme to potentiate the activity of both proteins. The multifunctional protein lactoferrin has many physiological possible roles. It is often referred to as an innate defense protein and frequently serves as the first line of defense in protection against pathogens. It has been shown to have the ability to bind iron, it is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, it is an antioxidant and it also has immunomodulatory properties. It has many beneficial properties, which make it a good candidate for a number of product applications. Considerable research is currently going on to explain the various suggested biological functions of lactoferrin.

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.

RANK, is part of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. RANK is widely expressed with uppermost levels in the skeletal muscle, thymus, liver, colon, small intestine, adrenal gland as well as dendritic cells. Furthermore, in activated human peripheral blood T lymphocytes, RANK expression is induced by IL4 and TGF-b.

WHSC2 (NELF-A) is a protein factor required for DRB-sensitive transcription. WHSC2 is one of the 5 components of the multisubunit NELF complex which cooperates with DSIF to repress RNA polymerase II elongation. The Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome is a multiple malformation syndrome characterized by mental and developmental defects resulting from a hemizygous deletion of the distal short arm of chromosome 4 (4p16.3).

SARS Coronavirus is an enveloped virus containing 3 outer structural proteins, namely the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins. Spike (S)-glycoprotein of the virus interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to allow viral entry into susceptible target cells. Accordingly, S-protein takes part in virus infection cycle and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies.

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.

DARS uses a 2 step reaction to catalyze the specific attachment of an amino acid to its cognate tRNA: the amino acid (AA) is first activated by ATP to form AA-AMP and then transferred to the acceptor end of the tRNA.

Nucleic acid binding protein 1 is a part of the SOSS complex, amultiprotein complex which functions downstream of the MRN complex to promote DNA repair and G2/M checkpoint.In the SOSS complex, NABP1 acts as a sensor of single-stranded DNA which binds to single-stranded DNA, inparticular to polypyrimidines. The SOSS complex links with DNA lesions and affects diverse endpoints in the cellular DNA damage response including cell-cycle checkpoint activation, recombinational repair andmaintenance of genomic stability. NABP1 is essential for efficient homologous recombination-dependent repairof double-strand breaks (DSBs) and ATM-dependent signaling pathways.

AnsA is a cytoplasmic asparaginase from E.coli involved in intracellular asparagine utilization. E.coli has 2 L-asparaginases: the cytoplasmic type I form (ansA) and the periplasmic type II form (ansB). AnsA (Type L asparaginase) is constitutively expressed and is obligatory for the growth of the bacteria on asparagine as the sole nitrogen source.

cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 19 (ARPP19) is protein phosphatase inhibitor which specifically inhibits protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) during mitosis. When phosphorylated at Ser-62 during mitosis, ARPP19 specifically interacts with PPP2R2D (PR55-delta) and inhibits its activity, leading to inactivation of PP2A, a vital condition to maintain cyclin-B1-CDK1 activity high during M phase. ARPP19 protein may indirectly boost GAP-43 expression. The 19 kDa cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein has a role in regulating mitosis by obstructing protein phosphatase-2A.

ASB13 belongs to the ankyrin repeat and SOCS box-containing (ASB) family of proteins which contains ankyrin repeat sequence and a SOCS box domain. ASB13 is a protein coding gene that plays a role as a substrate-recognition part of a SCF-like ECS E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex which arbitrates the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of target proteins.

Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 3F, also known as EIF3F belongs to the eIF-3 subunit F family. EIF3F is a component of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF-3) complex, which isessential for several steps in the initiation of protein synthesis. The eIF-3 complex associates with the 40S ribosomeand facilitates the recruitment of eIF-1, eIF-1A, eIF 2: GTP: methionyl-tRNAi and eIF-5 to form the 43S preinitiationcomplex (43S PIC). In addition, the eIF-3 complex stimulates mRNA recruitment to the 43S PIC and scanning of the mRNA forAUG recognition. The eIF-3 complex is also necessary for disassembly and recycling of post termination ribosomalcomplexes and subsequently prevents premature union of the 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits prior to initiation. Among the diseases associated with EIF3F are intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and cholangiocarcinoma.

POU2AF1 is a lymphocyte specific transcription coactivator protein. POU2AF1 cooperates only with the Oct1/2 proteins using sub domains in the POU domain of the Oct1/2 proteins, increasing their transcriptional efficiency. Even though POU2AF1 have no basic ability to bind DNA, it links firmly with the octomer motif in the presence of Oct1 and Oct2. POU2AF1 is expressed at maximum levels in spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes.

Stratifin is part of the 14-3-3 family. The 14-3-3 family of proteins plays an important regulatory function in signal transduction, checkpoint control, apoptotic and nutrient-sensing pathways. 14-3-3 proteins are highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed. There are 7 isoforms, beta, gamma, epsilon, sigma, zeta, tau and eta that have been identified in mammals. Stratifin is an epithelial cell marker that functions as a tumor suppressor whose expression can be down regulated via methylation. Failure of Stratifin expression results in a defective G2/M phase checkpoint and results in epithelial and non-epithelial tumorigenesis.

PEDF is a neurotrophic protein that induces extensive neuronal differentiation in retinoblastoma cells. SerpinF1 is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. EPC1 doesn’t undergo the stressed to relaxed conformation transition characteristic as of the active serpins since it exhibits no serine protease inhibitory activity.
Aqueous humour level of asymmetric dimethylarginine is correlated with PEDF in humans. ADMA and PEDF levels are increased in response to inflammation in uveitis.
Lack of PEDF expression is a potent factor for the enhancement of tumor growth and angiogenesis in breast cancer.
PEDF & VEGF genes contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy.
PEDF and VEGF structural changes in blood vessel wall play an important role in the pathophysiology of PD patients.
PEDF-overexpressing tumors exhibited reduced intratumoral angiogenesis.
SerpinF1 is a new promising approach for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Levels of the natural ocular anti-angiogenic factor SentrinF1 (PEDF) is associated with proliferative retinopathy.
VEGF secreted by retinal pigment epithelial cells upregulates PEDF expression via VEGFR-1 in an autocrine manner.
Sentrin-F1 concentration in the aqueous humor of diabetic patients predicts who will develop progression of retinopathy.
PEDF blocks angiogenic effects of leptin through its anti-oxidative properties.

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.

Krueppel-like factor 12 (KLF12) belongs to the Kruppel-like zinc finger protein family and can repress expression of the AP-2 alpha gene by binding to a particular site in the AP-2 alpha gene promoter. AP-2 alpha (Activator protein-2 alpha) is a developmentally-regulated transcription factor and vital regulator of gene expression during vertebrate development and carcinogenesis. KLF12 gene repression entails binding with a corepressor, CtBP1.

MAF1 resembles Maf1 which is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae – a highly conserved protein in eukaryotic cells, localized to the nucleus. MAF1 Interacts with BRF2, MAF1 and functions as a mediator for signals which explicitly inhibit RNA polymerase III (Pol III) activity by inhibiting the association of TFIIIB to DNA. MAF1 reacts to modifications in the cellular environment and represses pol III transcription.

MANF is a 20kDa protein which belongs to the ARMET family. MANF was originally known as an arginine-rich region protein which was extremely mutated in a large number of tumors. MANF Expression is induced during ER stress, signifying that MANF takes part in protein quality control during ER stress.

pykF (pyruvate kinase I) is a member of the pyruvate kinase family. pykF is an enzyme involved in glycolysis. pykF catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to ADP, yielding one molecule of pyruvate and one molecule of ATP, a process which also requires a Magnesium ion. This is the final step in the glycolytic pathway, which produces pyruvate molecules, the ultimate product of aerobic glycolysis.

WFDC12 belongs to the WFDC (WAP-type four-disulfide core) domain family. The WAP signature motif or WFDC domain has four disulfide bonds created by eight cysteines at the core of the protein, which operates as a protease inhibitor.

RELM-beta (Resistin-Like Molecule-beta) is a member of a recently identified family of secreted proteins containing a conserved cystein-rich C-terminus. The RELM family consists of resistin (also called FIZZ3), RELM-alfa (FIZZ1), RELM-beta (FIZZ2) and RELM-gamma. Only resisistin and RELM-beta were found in humans whereas all four RELM family members were identified in rodents.
RELM-beta appears to be produced as a homodimer exclusively by intestinal goblet cells and can be found in high quantities in stool. Remarkably, stool of germ-free mice displaying sterile intestinal tract does not contain RELM-beta until bacterial colonization takes place after pathogen-free mice entered natural environment. Some, but not all, colon carcinoma cell lines secrete RELM-beta into the cell culture supernatant.
The physiological function of RELM-beta is not known. High doses of recombinant RELM-beta showed hyperglycemic effects including lowered glucose disposal and increased hepatic glucose production in mice.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are a class of enzymes which charge tRNAs with their cognate amino acids. Asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (NARS) is localized to the cytoplasm and is a member of the class II family of tRNA synthetases. The N-terminal domain characterizes the signature sequence for the eukaryotic asparaginyl-tRNA synthetases.