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UFD1L forms a complex with two other proteins, nuclear protein localization-4 and valosin-containing protein, and this complex is necessary for the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. In addition, this complex controls the disassembly of the mitotic spindle and the formation of a closed nuclear envelope after mitosis. Mutations in this gene have been associated with Catch 22 syndrome as well as cardiac and craniofacial defects. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. A related pseudogene has been identified on chromosome 18.

PYCR1 is a universal housekeeping enzyme which catalyzes the NAD(P)H-dependent conversion of pyrroline-5-carboxylate to proline. PYCR1 enzyme also takes a physiologic part in the generation of NADP(+) in certain cell types. PYCR1 forms a homopolymer and localizes to the mitochondrion. Mutations in PYCR1 are the source of cutis laxa autosomal recessive type 2B (ARCL2B).

Connective Tissue Growth Factor belongs to the CCN family of proteins. The CCN family presently consists of six members in human also known as: Cyr61 (Cystein rich 61), CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor), Nov (Nephroblastoma Overexpressed gene), WISP-1, 2 and 3 (Wnt-1 Induced Secreted Proteins). The CCN genes encode secreted proteins associated with the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cell membrane. CCN proteins are matricellular proteins which are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including: proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. They are expressed in derivatives of the three embryonic sheets and are implicated in the development of kidney, nervous system, muscle, bone marrow, cartilage and bone. During adulthood, they are implicated in wound healing, bone fracture repair, and pathologies such as: fibrosis, vascular ailments and tumorigenesis.
Full length secreted CCN proteins can show an antiproliferative activity, whereas truncated isoforms are likely to stimulate proliferation and behave as oncogenes. The full length protein consists of four modulesModule I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs).
Module II includes a stretch of 70amino acid residues – which shares sequence identity with the Von Willebrand Factor Type C repeat (VWC).
Module III contains sequences sharing identity with the Thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) (WSXCSXXCG), which is thought to be implicated in the binding of sulfated glycoconjugates and to be important for cell adhesion. Module IV, also designated CT, is encoded by exon5. It is the leasts conserved one of the four domains at the level of nucleotide sequence, but it appears to be critical for several of the biological functions attributed to the CCN proteins. Module IV resembles the CT domain of several extracellular protein including, Von Willebrand's factor and mucins. Sequence similarities to heparin-binding motifs are also found within this domain. Proteolysis of the secreted full-length CCN proteins that has been reported in the case of CCN2 and CCN3 might result in the production of CCN-derived peptides with high affinity for ligands that full-length CNN proteins bind only poorly. Amino-truncated CCN2 isoforms were biologically active whereas no specific biological activity has been attributed to the truncated CCN3. Although the molecular processes underlying the production of these secreted isoforms is presently unknown, it is important to note that proteolysis occur at the same amino acid residues in both CCN2 and CCN3. An elevated expression of CCN2 has also been detected by Northern blotting in human invasive mammary ductal carcinomas, dermatofibromas, pyogenic granuloma, endothelial cells of angiolipomas and angioleiomyomas, and in pancreatic tumors. A study performed with chondrosarcomas representative of various histological grades established that CCN2 expression was closely correlated with increasing levels of malignancy. In agreement with CCN2 playing a role in brain tumor angiogenesis, immunocytochemistry studies indicated that both glioblastoma tumor cells and proliferating endothelial cells stained positive for CCN2. In astrocytomas, CCN2 expression was particularly elevated in high grade tumors, with a marked effect of CCN2 on cell proliferation. Downregulation of CCN2 expression in these cells was associated with a growth arrest at the G1/S transition while over-expression of CCN2 induced a two-fold increase of the number of cells in the G1 phase. Gene profiling analysis allowed to identify a set of about 50 genes whose expression might account for the proliferative activity of CCN2 in these cells.
CCN2 was seen in a higher proportion of mononuclear cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Treponema pallidum is a gram-negative spirochaete bacterium and is considered to be metabolically crippled. There are at least four known subspecies: T. pallidum pallidum, T. pallidum pertenue, T. pallidum carateum and T. pallidum endemicum. The helical structure of T. pallidum pallidum allows it to move in a corkscrew motion through viscous mediums such as mucus. Treponema pallidum sub sp. pallidum has one of the smallest bacterial genomes at 1.14 million base pairs (Mb) and has limited metabolic capabilities, reflecting its adaptation through genome reduction to the rich environment of mammalian tissue.

HGF, also known as scatter factor (SF) and Hepatocyte growth factor, is secreted from mesenchymal cells, targets and acts mainly on epithelial and endothelial cells. The protein is a paracrine cellular growth, motility and morphogenic factor. HGF can also be part of haemopoietic progenitor cells and T cells. HGF has a crucial role in embryonic organ development, mainly in myogenesis. In adults HGF takes part in organ regeneration and wound healing.

GTPase, IMAP Family Member 5 (GIMAP5) is a part of the GTP-binding superfamily and the immuno-associated nucleotide subfamily of nucleotide-binding proteins. GIMAP5 is an antiapoptotic protein which is required for mitochondrial integrity and T-cell survival. Polymorphisms in GIMAP5 are related with systemic lupus erythematosus. Read-through transcription can be found between GIMAP5 and the neighboring upstream GIMAP1 (GTPase, IMAP family member 1) gene. GIMAP5 also contributes to T-cell quiescence.

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).

Shiga-like toxin (verotoxin) is a toxin produced by some strains of Escherichia coli. Shiga-like toxin is named for its similarity to the AB5-type Shiga toxin produced by the bacteria Shigella dysenteriae. There are two known types-SLT1 and SLT2. The Shiga-like toxin is linked with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Shiga-like toxin requires highly specific receptors on the cells'' surface in order to attach and enter the cell. Species such as cattle, swine, and deer which do not carry these receptors may harbor toxigenic bacteria without any ill effect, dropping them in their feces, from where they may be distributed to humans. Shiga Like Toxin-1 Subunit B has nontoxic action, it is the functional region which binds to the receptor. The Shiga Like Toxin-1 Subunit B can be useful in vaccine study, antibody test and other functional research.

Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, thus committing glucose to the glycolytic pathway. Hexokinase 2 is the predominant form found in skeletal muscle. It localizes to the outer membrane of mitochondria. Expression of this gene is insulin-responsive, and studies in rat suggest that it is involved in the increased rate of glycolysis seen in rapidly growing cancer cells.

Methionine aminopeptidase 1 (METAP1) is a member of the peptidase M24A family. METAP1 removes the amino-terminal methionine from nascent proteins. METAP1 releases N-terminal amino acids, preferentially methionine, from peptides and arylamides. METAP1 is essential for normal progression through the cell cycle. The active site of METAP1 contains 2 adjacent divalent metal ions linked by a water molecule or hydroxide ion.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

MIG (CXCL9) is a small cytokine which is part of the CXC chemokine family. MIG, which is also recognized as monokine is induced by gamma interferon. MIG is related to 2 other CXC chemokines named CXCL10 and CXCL11, whose genes are located next to the gene for CXCL9 on human chromosome 4. CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 obtain their chemotactic functions by interacting with the chemokine receptor CXCR3.

Cleavage stimulation factor subunit 1 (CSTF1) is involved in the polyadenylation and 3'end cleavage of pre-mRNAs. The CSTF1 gene encodes one of three subunits which merge to produce cleavage stimulation factor (CSTF). Like the mammalian G protein beta subunits, CSTF1 contains transducin-like repeats. CSTF1 is one of the numerous factors necessary for polyadenylation and 3'-end cleavage of mammalian pre-mRNAs. CSTF1 is responsible for the interaction of CSTF with other factors to create a stable complex on the pre-mRNA.

Acyl-CoA synthetase family member 2, also known as ACSF2 is a member of the ATP-dependent AMP-binding enzyme family. Acyl-CoA synthetases are a family of enzymes which catalyze the thioesterification of fatty acids with coenzymeA to form activated intermediates, which play a basic part in lipid metabolism as well as homeostasis of lipid-related processes. ACSF2 is required for the complex of lipid synthesis, energy production via beta-oxidation, protein acylation and fatty-acid dependent transcriptional regulation. Moreover, ACSF2 is required for fatty acid import into cells by the process of vectorial acylation.

Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins (MIP) belong to the family of chemotactic cytokines known as chemokines. In humans, there are two major forms, MIP-1a and MIP-1b that are now officially named CCL3 and CCL4 respectively. Both are major factors produced by macrophages after they are stimulated with bacterial endotoxins. They activate human granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils) which can lead to acute neutrophilic inflammation. They also induce the synthesis and release of other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6 and TNF-a from fibroblasts and macrophages. The genes for CCL3 and CCL4 are both located on human chromosome 17.

Mammalian mitochondrial ribosomal proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and aid in protein synthesis within the mitochondrion. Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) comprised of a small 28S subunit and a large 39S subunit. Among different species, the proteins comprising the mitoribosome vary greatly in sequence, and sometimes in biochemical properties, thus preventing simple recognition by sequence homology. Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein L2 (MRPL2) is a 39S subunit protein which is a member of the EcoL2 ribosomal protein family.

Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein S23, also known as MRPS23 belongs to the mammalian mitochondrial ribosomal proteins which are encoded by nuclear genes and assist in proteinsynthesis inside the mitochondrion. Mitochondrial ribosomes consist of a small 28S subunit and a large 39S subunit. In addition, they have an estimated 75% protein to rRNA composition compared to prokaryotic ribosomes, where this ratio isreversed. An additional difference between mammalian mitoribosomes and prokaryotic ribosomes is that the lattercontain a 5S rRNA. Between different species, the proteins containing the mitoribosome differ very much in sequence, and occasionally in biochemical properties, which prevents easy recognition by sequence homology.

Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) consist of a small 28S subunit and a large 39S subunit. Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein S28, also known as MRPS28, is a protein coding gene which encodes a 28S subunit protein which is known as mitochondrial ribosomal protein S35.

SCO Cytochrome Oxidase Deficient Homolog 1, also known as SCO1 is a member of the SCO1/2 family. Mammalian cytochrome c oxidase (COX) catalyzes the transfer of reducing equivalents from cytochrome c to molecular oxygen and pumps protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, in yeast, two related COX assembly genes, SCO1 & SCO2 which are synthesis of cytochrome c oxidase, enable subunits 1 as well as 2 to be incorporated into the holoprotein. This gene is the human homolog to the yeast SCO1 gene. Among the diseases associated with SCO1 are hepatic failure, early-onset, neurologic disorder due to cytochrome c oxidase deficiency and fatal infantile cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 6 (DGCR6) shares homology with the Drosophila melanogaster gonadal protein, that participates in gonadal and germ cell development, and also with the gamma-1 subunit of human laminin. DGCR6 is involved in DiGeorge syndrome pathology and in schizophrenia.

DLD is an L protein of the mitochondrial glycine cleavage system which is also a component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, and the branched-chain alpha-keto acide dehydrogenase complex. DLD mutations were found in patients with E3-deficient maple syrup urine disease and lipoamide dehydrogenase deficiency.

NME3-a potential suppressor of metastasis, is expressed significantly less in highly metastatic cells than in cells with lower metastatic potential. NME3-a is vital for the synthesis of nucleoside triphosphates and has a part in apoptosis induction and hematopoiesis and is mainly expressed during early stages of myeloid differentiation of highly purified CD34+ cells.

Sorting nexin 3 (SNX3) belongs to the large family of hydrophilic proteins, which interact with various receptor types and are involved in intracellular trafficking. SNX3 interacts with phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate, and is involved in protein trafficking. SNX3 comprises a distinct subgroup of nexins, which share less sequence similarity outside of the PX domain and have significantly different binding affinities for the tyrosine kinase receptors.