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A natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) NKp46 has been shown to represent a novel NK cell-specific molecule involved in human NK cell activation. The natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) are a recently characterized family of Ig-like activation receptors that appear to be major triggering receptors in tumor cell recognition. The three known NCRs include NKp46 and NKp30, which are expressed on circulating NKcells, and NKp44, which is expressed only on activating NK cells. NKp46 has been implicated in NK cell-mediated lysis of several autologous tumor cells, pathogen-infected cell lines and mononuclear phagocytes infected with an intracellular bacterium. The Lysis of tumor cells by NK-cells involves recognition by NKp46 of heparan sulfate moieties of membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Furthermore, NKp46 is a surface receptor involved in NK-cell cell death by apoptosis. NKp46 has two extracellular Ig-like domains followed by a ~40 residue stalk region, a type I transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic tail. The extracellular Ig-like domain of NKp46 (22-255aa) is purified by FPLC gel-filtration chromatography, after refolding of the isolated inclusion bodies in a redox buffer. In addition, engagement of the antigen with the monoclonal antibody stimulates intracellular calcium levels and the synthesis of cytokines. CD59 is an NKp46 coreceptor (by physical association) together they activate cytotoxicity of human NK-cells, their engagement results in tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3-zeta chains associated with NKp46. Reduced cell surface expression of NKp46 and other NK-cell receptors is linked to the impaired NK-cell cytolytic function in viremic HIV-1 infection.

EMAP-II also called SCYE1 is a tumor derived cytokine that plays a role in a wide variety of activities on endothelial cells, monocytes and neutrophils. EMAP-II inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, vasculogenesis, neovessel formation, and can induce apoptosis. It is also chemotactic towards neutrophils and monocytes and induces myeloperoxidase activity from neutrophils. EMAP-II clinical value is inhibiting angiogenesis of vascular beds and suppressing the growth of primary and secondary tumors with no affect to normal tissues. SCYE1is specifically induced by apoptosis, and it is involved in the control of angiogenesis, inflammation, and wound healing. The release of this SCYE1 renders the tumor-associated vasculature sensitive to tumor necrosis factor. The precursor protein is identical to the p43 subunit, which is associated with the multi-tRNA synthetase complex, and it modulates aminoacylation activity of tRNA synthetase in normal cells. EMAP-2 plays a role in in the stimulation of inflammatory responses after proteolytic cleavage in tumor cells.

Opticin also known as OPTC is a member of the class III of the small leucine-rich repeat protein (SLRP) family. Members of this family are usually linked with the extracellular matrix. OPTC is attended in significant quantities in the vitreous of the eye and also localizes to the cornea, iris, ciliary body, optic nerve, choroid, retina, and fetal liver. OPTC might noncovalently bind collagen fibrils and regulate fibril morphology, spacing and organization. OPTC is mapped to a an area of chromosome 1 which is linked with the inherited eye diseases age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and posterior column ataxia with retinosa pigmentosa (AXPC1).

CAPSL is a calcium-binding protein holding two conserved calcium-binding motifs (EF-hands) which are found in a superfamily of calcium sensors and calcium signal modulators. In addition, the CAPSL gene is in the same linkage disequilibrium (LD) block as the IL7R gene and there is well known association between the CAPSL-IL7R locus and type 1 diabetes.

Obestatin is a hormone that is produced in the cells lining the stomach and small intestine of several mammals including humans; it drastically reduces appetite in mice and is expected to do the same in humans. Obestatin is a peptide hormone - a relatively small protein. It is encoded by the same gene that also encodes ghrelin, a peptide hormone that increases appetite. The protein produced by that gene breaks into two smaller peptides, ghrelin and obestatin. Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor and is involved in regulating growth hormone release. Ghrelin is derived from a preprohormone called preproghrelin, which also generates a second peptide called obestatin. Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR39 and is involved in satiety and decreased food intake.

LIMD2 is a protein-coding gene which holds one LIM zinc-binding domain. LIMD2 is related to illnesses such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer.

Calcium-binding protein P22 is a phosphoprotein that binds to the sodium-hydrogen exchangers (NHEs). CHP is an essential cofactor which maintains the physiological activity of NHE family members. CHP has protein sequence resemblance to calcineurin B and it is also identified to be an endogenous inhibitor of calcineurin activity.CHP is necessary for constitutive membrane traffic. CHP Inhibits GTPase-stimulated Na(+)/H(+) exchange. CHP inhibits calcineurin phosphatase activity. Required for activity of SLC9A1/NHE1.

UCHL1 (PGP9.5) belongs to a gene family whose products hydrolyze small C-terminal adducts of ubiquitin to produce the ubiquitin monomer. Protein Gene Product (PGP9.5) is a neuron specific protein, structurally and immunologically distinct from neuron specific enolase. Human UCHL1 and UCHL3 have an extremely complicated knot structure for a protein, with five knot crossings. It is considered that the knot structure may increase a protein's resistance to degradation in the proteasome.
The protein, which has a molecular weight of 27 kDa was first defined by high resolution two dimetional PAGE. Standard immunohistochemical techniques have demonstrated the presence of PGP9.5 in neurons and nerve fibers at all levels of the central and peripheral nervous system, in many neurodcrine cells, in segments of the renal tubules, in spermatogonia and leydig cells of the testis, in ova and in some cells of both the pregnant and non pregnant corpus luteum. A point mutation (I93M) in UCHL1 is implicated as the cause of Parkinson's disease in one kindred. On the other hand, a polymorphism (S18Y) in UCHL1 has been found to be associated with a reduced risk for Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, UCHL1 is associated with the Alzheimer's disease, and required for normal synaptic and cognitive function.

Cold inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) has a protective role in the genotoxic stress response by stabilizing transcripts of genes involved in cell survival. CIRBP localizes to the nucleus and contains one RRM (RNA recognition motif) domain. Expressed ubiquitously, CIRBP is believed to play a crucial role in the suppression of cellular proliferation in response to UV irradiation or extreme cold.

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.

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.

LRPAP1 is a member of the alpha-2-MRAP family. LRPAP1 cooperates with LRP1/alpha-2-macroglobulin receptor and glycoprotein 330. LRPAP1, located on the cell surface, creates a complex with the alpha 2 macroglobulin receptor light and heavy chains and has part in the pathogenesis of membrane glomerular nephritis.

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.

Inducible T-Cell Costimulator Ligand also known as ICOSLG, is part of the B7 family of co-stimulatory molecules related to B7-1 and B7-2. ICOSLG is a transmembrane glycoprotein with extracellular IgV and IgC domains, in addition it binds to ICOS on activated T cells. The dependent signaling of ICOSLG takes part in a proliferative response.

SEMA7A (semaphorin-7A isoform 1), is a membrane-bound semaphorin which is linked with cell surfaces via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) linkage. SEMA7A encourages formation of focal adhesion complexes, activation of the protein kinase PTK2/FAK1 and subsequent phosphorylation of MAPK3 & MAPK1. SEMA7A takes a vital part in integrin-mediated signaling and functions in regulating cell migration as well as immune responses. In addition, SEMA7A promotes the production of proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages & monocytes.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a ligand molecule which induces apoptosis. It is a type II transmembrane protein with homology to other members of the tumor necrosis factor family.
In humans, the gene that encodes for TRAIL is located at chromosome 3q26.
TRAIL binds to the death receptors, DR4 and DR5. The process of apoptosis is caspase-8-dependent. This protein preferentially induces apoptosis in transformed and tumor cells, but does not appear to kill normal cells although it is expressed at a significant level in most normal tissues.

Adiponectin is a recently discovered 244 amino acid protein, the product of the apM1 gene, which is physiologically active and specifically and highly expressed in adipose cells (Adipokine). The protein belongs to the soluble defense collagen super family; it has a collagen-like domain structurally homologous with collagen VIII and X and complement factor C1q-like globular domain. APM-1 forms homotrimers, which are the building blocks for higher order complexes found circulating in serum.

Aspartylglucosaminidase, also known as AGA, takes part in the catabolism of Nlinked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. AGA is a protein coding gene which cleaves asparagine from N-acetylglucosamines in the lysosomal breakdown of glycoproteins.

Filamin binding LIM protein 1 (FBLIM1) plays a role as an anchoring site for cell-ECM adhesion proteins and filamin-containing actin filaments. FBLIM1 is involved in cell shape spreading and motility. FBLIM1 participates in the regulation of filamin-mediated cross-linking and stabilization of actin filaments. FBLIM1 promotes stimulation of integrins and regulates integrin-mediated cell-cell adhesion.

IL3RA, also known as Interleukin 3 Receptor Subunit Alpha, is a single-pass type 1 membrane protein which is a member of the type 1 cytokine receptor family as well as type 5 subfamily. IL3RA is a pleiotropic cytokine which is produced mainly by activated T cells or mast cells. Moreover, the specific alpha subunit of the interleukin 3 receptor is strongly expressed in a variety of leukemic blasts as well as leukemic stem cells and appears to be a great target for the therapy of leukemias.

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.

Synaptobrevin-2 or VAMP2 is a protein that has a proline-rich N-terminal part, highly conserved hydrophilic domain, a transmembrane anchor and a C-terminal.VAMP2 found in the transmembrane region of the cell, in the cytoplasmic surface of the synaptic vesicle. The protein is mainly found in the Langerhans islets in the pancreas and glomerular cells in the kidney. A SNARE complex is created within the protein’s N-terminal domain and the target membrane-associated T.