Search results

Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is found in body fluids such as serum, sweat, and seminal and breast cyst fluids. It is identical in amino acid sequence to tumor-derived lipid mobilizing factor (LMF), a protein associated with the dramatic loss of adipose body stores in cancer cachexia, and has been shown to stimulate lipolysis by adipocytes in vivo and in vitro. A role for ZAG has been proposed in the regulation of body weight, and age-dependent changes in genetically influenced obesity, and also it regulates melanin production by normal and malignant melanocytes. It has also recently been classified as a novel adipokine in that it is produced by both white and brown fat adipocytes and may act in a local autocrine fashion in the reduction of adiposity in cachexia. Controlling ZAG/LMF's activity could be life-saving in the management of certain cancers and other cachexiainducing conditions, and its possible normal role in body fat store homeostasis is deserving of understanding in its own right. ZAG exhibits a class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) fold but is a soluble protein rather than being anchored to plasma membranes and does not associate with alpha-2-microglobulin in humans. Like antigen-presenting MHC class I proteins, ZAG has an open apical groove, and X-ray crystallography of human derived ZAG revealed an unidentifiable electron density in a similar position to that occupied by antigenic peptides in classical MHC proteins and glycolipids in isoforms of CD1. This presumptive ligand is not a peptide, and the groove is too small to hold a glycolipid such as is presented by CD1 isoforms. By analogy with all other MHC class I-related proteins that have an open apical groove [some do not ], occupancy by a ligand is probably crucial to ZAG's biological function. Despite all of the structural and biochemical evidence that ZAG binds a ligand, none has so far been found by extraction from protein isolated from biological fluids. This difficulty could be because the ligand is labile, heterogeneous, or readily lost during purification procedures. Knowing more about how ZAG interacts with the compounds it has been found to bind, both natural and artificial, will inform searches for the elusive ligand(s) and its/their role in ZAG's signaling function.

Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor, 3 Domains Long Cytoplasmic Tail 2 (KIR3DL2) is a type 1 transmembrane protein of the p70 family of killer cell Ig-like receptors. KIR3DL2 is a receptor on NK cells for HLA-A alleles which Inhibits their activity consequently preventing cell lysis.

KLRD1, also known as Killer Cell Lectin Like Receptor D1, is expressed on the surface of natural killer cells in the innate immune system. KLRD1 functions as a receptor for the recognition of MHC class I HLA-E molecules by NK cells and some cytotoxic T-cells. KLRD1 can create disulfide-bonded heterodimer with NKG2 family members. CD94 & NKG2 complex interacts with (HLA)-E, Human Leukocyte Antigen on target cells on the surface of natural killer cells.

Killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily F member 1, aka KLRF1, is a member of the C-type lectin family. KLRF1, an activating homodimeric C-type lectin-like receptor (CTLR), is expressed on nearly all natural killer (NK) cells and stimulates their cytoxicity and cytokine release. Killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily F member 1 works through interaction with its ligand, AICL (activation-induced C-type lectin), which is selectively expressed on myeloid cells. AICL interaction regulates the immune responses at sites of inflammation by stimulating the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Diseases associated with KLRF1 include Developmental And Epileptic Encephalopathy 76.

IL2-Ra is one of the three constituent subunits of the IL2 receptor. IL-2Ra is released into the serum after increased cellular expression such as increased activation of B and T cells. Clinical manifestations of IL2-Ra elevation include autoimmune conditions and some leukemias and lymphomas.

A fusion tag called FLAG consists of eight amino acids (AspTyrLysAspAspAspAspLys) including an enterokinase-cleavage site. FLAG is specifically designed for immunoaffinity chromatography. It allows elution under non-denaturing conditions. Several antibodies against this peptide have been developed. One antibody denoted as M1 binds the peptide in the presence of bivalent metal cations preferably Ca(+). Elution is effected by chelating agents. Another strategy is competitive elution with excess of free Flag Peptide. The FLAG peptide purifies and detects recombinant fusion proteins. FLAG peptide is useful in Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry, protein purification, and in the study of protein-protein interactions, cell ultrastructure, and protein localization. Flag peptide is a hydrophilic tag which significantly improves the detection and purification of recombinant fusion proteins.

AHSG (fetuin-A) which is a glycoprotein present in the serum, is synthesized by hepatocytes. AHSG is one of the fetuin class of plasma binding proteins. It is involved in a number of functions, such as endocytosis, brain development and the formation of bone tissue. It is usually present in the cortical plate of the immature cerebral cortex and bone marrow hemopoietic matrix, hence it has been postulated that it participates in the development of the tissues. Yet, its exact significance is still vague. AHSG promotes endocytosis, hold opsonic properties and influences the mineral phase of the bone. Affinity for calcium and barium ions has been shown.

Dystroglycan 1 (DAG1) is a laminin binding component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex which provides a connection between the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. The N-terminal domain of alpha-dystroglycan is secreted into the cerebrospinal fluid. The effect of DAG1 on the nervous system remains vague. The complete dystroglycan complex is expressed in a various tissues and has a role in processes such as laminin and basement membrane assembly, sarcolemmal stability, cell survival, peripheral nerve myelination, nodal structure, cell migration, and epithelial polarization. DAG1 is a candidate gene for the site of the mutation in autosomal recessive muscular dystrophies. The dramatic decrease of DAG1 in Duchenne muscular dystrophy leads to a loss of linkage between the sarcolemma and extracellular matrix, making muscle fibers more susceptible to necrosis.

ARL4A is related Specifically to ARL6 and ARL7 and belongs to the ARF-like protein (ARL) subfamily of small GTPases. However, unlike ARFs, ARL4 does not activate the cholera toxin ADP-ribosyltranferase. ARL4A takes part in neurogenesis during embryonic development and somitogenesis in the early stages of adult spermatogenesis.

Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) comprise a family of at least eighteen structurally realted proteins that are involved in a multitude of physiological and pathological cellular processes, including cell growth, differentation, angiogenesis, wound healing and tumorgenesis. The biological activities of the FGFs are mediated by a family if type I transmembrane tyrosine kinases which undergo dimerization and autophosphorylation after ligand binding. Four distinct genes encoding closely related FGF receptors, FGFR-1to -4 are known. Multiple forms of FGFR-1 to -3 are generated by alternative splicing of the mRNAs. A frequent splicing event involving FGFR-1 and -2 results in receptors containing all three Ig domains, referred to as the alpha isoform, or only IgII and IgIII, referred to as the ? isoform. Only the alpha isoform has been identified for FGFR-3 and FGFR-4. Additional splicing events for FGFR-1 to -3, involving the C-terminal half of the IgIII domain encoded by two mutually exclusive alternative exons, generate FGF receptors with alternative IgIII domains (IIIb and IIIc). A IIIa isoform which is a secreted FGF binding protein containing only the N-terminal half of the IgIII domain plus some intron sequences has also been reported for FGFR-1. Mutations in FGFR-1 to -3 have been found in patients with birth defects involving craniosynostosis.

Toll-interleukin1 receptor (TIR) domain containing adaptor protein (TIRAP) contains 1 TIR domain. TIRAP is an adapter molecule linked with toll-like receptors. TIRAP is required in TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathways in the innate immune response. TIRAP activates NF-kappa-B, MAPK1, MAPK3 and JNK, which subsequently results in cytokine secretion and the inflammatory response. TIRAP is highly expressed in the liver, kidney, spleen, skeletal muscle and heart. TIRAP is also found in peripheral blood leukocytes, lung, placenta, small intestine, thymus, colon and brain.

POLR2J2 belongs to the RNA polymerase II subunit 11 gene family, that includes 3 genes in a cluster on chromosome 7q22.1 and a pseudogene on chromosome 7p13. DNA directed RNA polymerase II polypeptide J family encodes a subunit of RNA polymerase II, the polymerase which is responsible for synthesizing messenger RNA in eukaryotes. This locus produces multiple, otherwise spliced transcripts which express isoforms with distinct C-termini compared to DNA directed RNA polymerase II polypeptide J. Most or all variants are spliced to include additional non-coding exons at the 3' end that makes them candidates for nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). Therefore, it is unknown if this locus expresses a protein or proteins in vivo.

GNG4 belongs to a multigene family and is involved in defining the specificity of receptor-G protein interaction. In mammals, G protein alpha, beta and gamma polypeptides are encoded by no less than 16, 4 and 7 genes, respectively. It is a well-known fact that different G protein complexes expressed in different tissues carry structurally distinct members of the alpha beta and gamma subunits and that privileged connotation between members of subunit families rise G protein functional diversity.

PSMA6 belongs to the peptidase T1A family, which is a 20S core alpha subunit. The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with an extremely organized ring-shaped 20S core structure. The core structure consists of 4 rings of 28 non-identical subunits; 2 rings consist of 7 alpha subunits and 2 rings consist of 7 beta subunits. PSMA6 is spread all over eukaryotic cells in large quantities and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent procedure in a non-lysosomal pathway.

Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase Like (PYCRL) is a member of the pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase family and acts as a homodecamer. PYCRL plays a key role in proline bio-synthesis. Proline serves as a non-enzymatic antioxidant to reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in microorganisms, animals and plants. In the final stage of proline biosynthesis, PYCRL catalyzes the reduction of aldehyde dehydrogenase 4A1 (ALDH4A1) to proline with NAD(P)H as the cofactor.

Canopy FGF Signaling Regulator 1, also known as CNPY1, is expressed in the midbrain-hindbrain (MHB) boundary in zebrafish. CNPY1, which binds FGFR1, also takes part in FGF signaling.

Ras-related protein Rab-35 (RAB35) is restricted to the plasma membrane and endocytic compartments and controls a fast endocytic recycling pathway. Inhibition of Rab35 function leads to the accumulation of endocytic markers on numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles in cells that failed cytokinesis, which is consistent with a central requirement for Rab35-regulated recycling during cell division.

GH-releasing peptides (GHRPs) are synthetic peptides that like GHRH act directly on pituitary somatotrophs to stimulate GH release. GHRP-2, an investigational drug, is one of the most potent members of the GHRP family. It has been shown to be effective in adults via the oral and intranasal as well as the iv route of administration.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 8 (TNFRSF8) is a receptor for TNFSF8/CD30L. TNFRSF8 has a role in the regulation of cellular growth and transformation of activated lymphoblasts. In addition, the TNFRSF8 protein regulates gene expression via activation of NF-kappa-B. TNFRSF8 being a regulator of apoptosis, induces cell death or proliferation, depending on the cell type.

H1N1 is a subtype specie of Influenza A virus. H1N1 Influenza Virus has mutated into various strains such as the Spanish Flustrain, mild humanflu strains, endemic pigstrains, and various strains found in birds. The Influenza A Virus is a globular particle about 100nm in diameter, sheathed in a lipid bilayer derived from the plasma membrane of its host. Studded in the lipid bilayer are two integral membrane proteins some 500 molecules of hemagglutinin ("H") and some 100 molecules of neuraminidase ("N"). Within the lipid bilayer are 3000 molecules of matrix protein and 8 pieces of RNA. Each of the 8 RNA molecules is associated with many copies of a nucleoprotein, several molecules of the three subunits of its RNA polymerase some "non-structural" protein molecules of uncertain function.

Myeloid/Lymphoid Leukemia Translocated To 11 (MLLT11) is a part of the Mixed-Lineage Leukemia protein family. MLLT11 which takes part in leukemogenesis and in the progression of severe monocytic leukemia (AML) is located on chromosome 11q23. MLLT11 which is also expressed in embryonic brain cortex is upregulated during neuronal differentiation and is taking part in the evolution of the central nervous system.

HPRT1 has a main part in the generation of purine nucleotides through the purine salvage pathway. HPRT1 primarily functions to salvage purines from degraded DNA to renewed purine synthesis. Therefore, it performs as a catalyst in the reaction between guanine and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate to form GMP.

a-Synuclein (amino acids 1-140), an acidic neuronal protein of 140 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant and is natively unfolded with an extended structure primarily composed of random coils. a-synuclein has been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and more recently, to be an important regulatory component of vesicular transport in neuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies have shown that a-synuclein has chaperone activity and that this activity is lost upon removing its C-terminal acidic tail (amino acids 96-140).

Phosphoglucomutase-1 also known as PGM1 is a member of the phosphohexose mutase family. There are more than a few PGM isozymes, which catalyze the transfer of phosphate between the 1&6positions of glucose. In nearly all cell types, PGM1 isozymes predominate, representing around 90% of total PGM activity. It has been found that defects in PGM1 are the cause of glycogen storage disease type 14.