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SPA17 is a protein present at the cell surface. SPA17 was characterized by its participation in the binding of sperm to the zona pellucida of the oocyte. The central portion of SPA17 has carbohydrate binding motifs and likely takes part in cell-cell adhesion functions such as immune cell migration and metastasis.

CD138 takes a part in cell adhesion. CD138 is expressed on the surface of pre-B cells and plasma cells but is absent from mature B cells. SDC1 is a selective marker for B cell lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoplasmacytoid leukemia. SDC1 is missing from the apoptotic myeloma cells; therefore is a valuable marker for plasma cell and myeloma cells.

Energy Homeostasis Associated (ENHO) participates in glucose homeostasis maintenance and lipid metabolism. ENHO is expressed in the liver and the brain. The role of ENHO in obesity or diabetes is studied.

Persephin is a member of the GDNF ligand subfamily of the TGF-beta superfamily. PSPN encourages the existence and growth of key dopaminergic and motor neurons, as well as taking part in kidney development. Nonetheless, persephin does not support existence of peripheral neurons.

NRTN belongs to the GDNF family of ligands, a distant member of the TGF-beta superfamily. NRTN, a ligand used to bind to GFRA2 receptors, signals through RET and a GPI-linked coreceptor, and promotes endurance of neuronal populations, controls the size of non-neuronal cell population such as haemopoietic cells and regulate the development and maintenance of the CNS. Mutation in NRTN results in Hirschsprung Disease.

GNMT is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of S-adenosyl-L-methionine with glycine to S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and sarcosine. GNMT is located in the cytoplasm and acts as a homotetramer. Defects in the GNMT gene causes of GNMT deficiency (hypermethioninemia). GNMT affects DNA methylation by regulating the ratio of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocystine and is involved in the detoxification pathway in liver cells. GNMT expression is diminished in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). GNMT catalyzes the methylation of glycine by using s- adenosylmethionine (adomet) to form n-methylglycine (sarcosine) with the concomitant production of s-adenosylhomocysteine (adohcy). GNMT plays an essential role in the regulation of tissue concentration of adomet and of metabolism of methionine.

BLMH is affiliate to the papain superfamily of the cysteine protease and the peptidase C1 family. BLMH is a cytoplasmic cysteinepeptidase usually found as a homohexamer. BLMH shields normal and malignant cells from the glycopeptide antitumor drug BLM. BLMH catalyzes the inactivation of the antitumor drug BLM (a glycopeptide) by hydrolyzing the carboxyamide bond of its B-aminoalaninamide moiety and in addition demonstrates general aminopeptidase activity.

Omentin is a recently recognized gene highly localized to the mental tissue (visceral adipose tissue). Omentin is present in the stromal vascular cells in the adipose tissue rather than in the adipocytes. Omentin is predominantly expressed in the visceral adipose tissue than the subcutaneous tissue, with the omentin mRNA being 150 times higher in the visceral adipose tissue. Omentin has also been detected in human blood using western blot analysis, and seems to increase INSstimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in mice. Omentin seems to increase Akt phosphorylation irrespective of INS presence. Its role in glucose metabolism and obesity remains to be described; an INS-sensitizing action is possible.Differences in Omentin expression has been noted in adipose tissue from normals and patients with inflammatory bowel disease although its significance is unknown.

Eledoisin is an undecapeptide formed in the venom gland of several species of octopuses and is used as a vasodilator and a contraction agent of extravascular smooth muscle.

ANXA1 is part of the family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins which have a Mw between 35kDa-40kDa and are situated on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. ANXA1 protein has a Mw of 40kDa, with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity to bind from two to four calcium ions with high affinity. Since phospholipase A2 is necessary for the biosynthesis of the potent mediators of inflammation, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, ANXA1 might have potential anti-inflammatory activity. ANXA1 promotes membrane fusion and iplays a role in exocytosis. The recognition of ANXA1 protein by immunocytochemical leads a simple, highly sensitive and specific assay for diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia.

Interleukin-6 Signal Transducer or IL6ST is a receptor, part of the family of class 1 cytokine receptor. IL6ST binds to IL-6 through membrane-anchored or soluble IL-6R starts a connection between another complex of IL6ST and IL-6 , thus forming a homo-dimer and a signal transduction occurs.

Elcatonin is a Calcitonin derivative which is transformed from eel´s calcitonin by changing the S-S bond into the stable C-N bond. It inhibits the absorption and autolysis of bones, thus leads to blood calcium descending. In addition, it inhibits the bone salts dissolving and transferring and promotes the excretion of calcium and phosphorus in urine. Meanwhile, it inhibits renal tubules reabsorbing calcium, phosphorus and sodium and keeps blood calcium at normal level. It is mainly used for remitting or eliminating the pain caused by Osteoporosis.

Pleiotrophin (Osteoblast-Specific Factor-1, OSF-1) contains 136 amino acid residues. The sequence is very rich in cationic amino acids (24% of the residues); lysine cluster sequences are found in the N-terminal and C-terminal ends of the structure.
The OSF-1 gene was shown by Northern blotting analysis to be expressed in mouse calvarial osteoblast-enriched cells and in mouse brain tissues, but not in thymus, spleen, kidney, liver, lung, testis or heart. Pleiotrophin has the ability to promote adhesion, migration, expansion, and differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells. In addition to certain types of cancer, the embryonic growth and differentiation factor pleiotrophin is found also in adults in inflammatory diseases. In osteoarthritis, pleiotrophin is especially expressed in early stages, and its concentrations in the synovial fluid could serve as a marker for the progress of the disease. Pleitrophin might be involved in cartilage repair in osteoarthritis, in particular, in earlier stages.

Goserelin is a hormone similar to the one normally released from the hypothalamus gland in the brain (GnRH super-agonist). It is used to treat for prostate and breast cancer.
Goserelin decreases the amount of estrogen and testosterone by this treating endometriosis and cancer of the breast, and can help thin the uterus lining before surgery. Goserelin prevents the growth of tissue associated with endometriosis.
Reducing the amount of testosterone is one way of treating prostate cancer.

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.

Endoglin is a type I membrane glycoprotein located on cell surfaces and is part of the TGF beta receptor complex.
The Endoglin protein consists of a homodimer of 180 kDA with disulfide links. Endoglin has been found on endothelial cells, activated macrophages, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, Endoglin has been found to be part of the TGF-beta1 receptor complex. Endoglin thus may be involved in the binding of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, activin-A, BMP-2, and BMP-7. Beside TGF-beta signaling endoglin may have other functions. It has been postulated that endoglin is involved in the cytoskeletal organization affecting cell morphology and migration. Endoglin has a role in the development of the cardiovascular system and in vascular remodeling. Endoglin expression is regulated during heart development . Experimental mice without the endoglin gene die due to cardiovascular abnormalities.

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.

Proteasome 26S Subunit, Non-ATPase 5, also known as PSMD5 is a member of the proteasome subunit S5B/HSM3 family. The 26S proteasome is an enzymatic complex which degrades ubiquitinated proteins in eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, PSMD5 acts as a chaperones which is involved in the assembly of the 26s proteasome, particularly of the base subcomplex of the PA700/19S regulatory complex. PSMD5 is full of dileucine repeats, which have been involved in trafficking of various transmembrane proteins.

SNAPIN is involved in the neurotransmitter release process through its modulation of the sequential interactions between the SNAREs and synaptotagmin. SNAPIN is part of the SNARE complex of proteins that is needed for synaptic vesicle docking and fusion. SNAPAP is enriched in neurons and exclusively located on synaptic vesicle membrane protein. SNAPIN is also an important factor of the BLOC1 multisubunit protein complex. BLOC1 is required for normal biogenesis of specialized organelles of the endosomal-lysosomal system, such as melanosomes and platelet dense granules.

ISG15 ubiquitin-like Modifier is conjugated to the intracellular target proteins after IFN-alpha or IFN-beta stimulation. ISG15 enzymatic pathway is partially distinct from that of ubiquitin, differing in substrate specificity and interaction with ligating enzymes. ISG15 conjugation pathway uses a dedicated E1 enzyme, but seems to converge with the ub conjugation pathway at the level of a specific E2 enzyme. ISG15 protein targets include STAT1, SERPINA 3G/SPI2A, JAK1, MAPK3/ERK1, PLCG1, EIF2AK2/PKR, MX1/MXA, and RIG-1. Deconjugated by USP18/UBP43 shows specific chemotactic activity towards neutrophils and activates them to induce release of eosinophil chemotactic factors. ISG15 serves as a trans-acting binding factor directing the association of ligated target proteins to intermediate filaments. ISG15 plays a role in autocrine, paracrine and endocrine mechanisms, as in cell-to-cell signaling, possibly partly by inducing ifn-gamma secretion by monocytes and macrophages. ISG15 displays antiviral activity during viral infections. ISG15 in response to IFN-TAU secreted by the conceptus, ligates to and regulate proteins involved in the release of prostaglandin F2-alpha and thus prevent lysis of the corpus luteum and maintain the pregnancy. ISG15 shares several common properties with other ubiquitin-like molecules, but its activity is strongly regulated by precise signaling pathways that have a role in innate immunity.

Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of zinc and calcium-dependent endopeptidases that break down extracellular matrix proteins. The MMP9 is secreted as a 92kDa zymogen. Cleavage of ProMMP-9 results in the active enzyme, having a molecular weight of approximately 82kDa. MMP9 is composed of the following domains: a gelatin-binding domain consisting of three fibronectin type II units, a catalytic domain containing the zinc-binding site, a proline-rich type V collagen-homologous domain and a hemopexin-like domain. MMP9 is produced by the several cell types: monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, osteoclasts and endothelial cells. MMP9 is involved in inflammatory responses, tissue remodeling, wound healing, tumor growth and metastasis. MMP9 may also play an important part in local proteolysis of the extracellular matrix and in leukocyte migration, as well as in bone osteoclastic resorption. MMP9 cleaves type IV and type V collagens into large C-terminal three quarter fragments and shorter N-terminal one quarter fragments. MMP9 can also degrade fibronectin but not laminin or Pz-peptide.
MMP9 defects may be a cause of susceptibility to intervertebral disc disease (IDD), also known as lumbar disk herniation (LDH).

ASMT is a member of the methyltransferase superfamily. ASMT participates in melatonin biosynthesis. ASMT Expressed in brain, retina and pineal gland, ASMT utilities to catalyze the final reaction in the synthesis of melatonin, particularly the conversion of S-adenosyl-L-methionine and N-acetylserotonin to S-adenosyl-Lhomocysteine and melatonin.

GST family of enzymes comprises a long list of cytosolic, mitochondrial, and microsomal proteins that are 45-55 kDa (dimer form) size and are capable of multiple reactions with a multitude of substrates, both endogenous and xenobiotic. GST catalyses the conjugation of reduced glutathione meaning the sulfhydryl group, to electrophilic centers on a wide variety of substrates. This activity is useful in the detoxification of endogenous compounds such as peroxidised lipids, as well as the metabolism of xenobiotics. GST binds toxins and function as transport protein. Glutathione S-transferase is used to create the so-called ''GST gene fusion system''. The GST is used to purify and detect proteins of interest. In a GST gene fusion system, the GST sequence is incorporated into an expression vector alongside the gene sequence encoding the protein of interest. Induction of protein expression from the vector''s multiple cloning sites results in expression of a fusion protein - the protein of int