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MMP-1 (interstitial collagenase) can break down a wide range of substrates including types I, II, III, VII, VIII, and X collagens as well as L-Selectin, pro-TNF, IL-1?, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5, casein, gelatin, ?1 antitrypsin, myelin basic protein, pro-MMP2 and pro-MMP9. A significant function of MMP-1 is the degradation of fibrillar collagens in extracellular matrix remodeling. MMP-1 is expressed in fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, monocytes and macrophages. MMP1 can be divided into a number of distinct domains: a prodomain which is cleaved on activation, a catalytic domain containing the zinc binding site and a short hinge region with a carboxyl terminal domain. MMP1 is part of a cluster of MMP genes which localize to chromosome 11q22.3.

Adenylate kinases play a role in regulating the adenine nucleotide composition within a cell by catalyzing the reversible transfer of phosphate groups among adenine nucleotides. There are 3 types of adenylate kinase isozymes, AK1, AK2, and AK3 in vertebrates. Expression of these isozymes are tissue-specific and developmentally regulated. AK2 is localized in the mitochondrial intermembrane space and is involved in apoptosis. AK2 is mutated in individuals with reticular dysgenesis.

Cyclophilin-C belongs to the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase)) family. PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and accelerate the folding of proteins. Like other PPIases, the Cyclophilin-C protein can bind immunosuppressant cyclosporin A.

Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, thus committing glucose to the glycolytic pathway. HK3 encodes hexokinase 3. Similar to hexokinases 1 and 2, this allosteric enzyme is inhibited by its product glucose-6-phosphate. Hexokinase3 lacks the hydrophobic N-terminal sequence critical for targeting to mitochondria. Hexpkinase3 may have anabolic functions, providing H6P for glycogen or lipid synthesis.

Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) is a protein tyrosine kinase which takes part in a specific subset of cytokine receptor signaling pathways such as cell growth, development, differentiation or histone modifications. JAK2 is linked with the prolactin receptor and is necessary for responses to gamma IFN. Mice which do not express an active protein for JAK2 show embryonic lethality associated with the absence of definitive erythropoiesis.

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that regulates T and natural killer cell activation and proliferation. This cytokine and interleukine 2 share many biological activities. They are found to bind common hematopoietin receptor subunits, and may compete for the same receptor, and thus negatively regulate each other's activity. The number of CD8+ memory cells is shown to be controlled by a balance between this cytokine and IL2. This cytokine induces the activation of JAK kinases, as well as the phosphorylation and activation of transcription activators STAT3, STAT5, and STAT6. Studies of the mouse counterpart suggested that this cytokine may increase the expression of apoptosis inhibitor BCL2L1/BCL-x(L), possibly through the transcription activation activity of STAT6, and thus prevent apoptosis. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding the same protein have been reported.

Otubain 1 (OTUB1) belongs to the ovarian tumor (OUT) superfamily of predicted cysteine proteases and inhibits cytokine gene transcription in the immune system through its interaction with a ubiquitin protease and E3 ubiquitin ligase. OTUB1 is a highly specific ubiquitin iso-peptidase, it cleaves ubiquitin from branched poly-ubiquitin chains but not from ubiquitinated substrates. OTUB1 is believed to work in specific ubiquitin-dependent pathways, possibly by providing an editing function of polyubiquitin chain growth. OTUB1 is a hydrolase that removes conjugated ubiquitin from proteins in vitro and may therefore have a significant regulatory role in the level of protein turnover by preventing degradation. Additionally, OTUB1 is a regulator of T-cell anergy, a phenomenon that occurs when T-cells are rendered impassive to antigen re-challenge and no longer respond to their cognate antigen. OTUB1 acts via its interaction with RNF128/GRAIL, which is an essential inductor of CD4 T-cell anergy.

MCSFR which is also familiar as CSF1R, is part of the type3 subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. MCSFR is expressed mainly on cells of the monocyte and macrophage lineage, stem cells, and in the growing placenta. Most of the biological effects of this cytokine are mediated by MCSFR. MCSFR contains an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a single membrane-spanning segment, and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. Originally CSF1 and this receptor were implicated as vital for normal trophoblastic implantation as well as monocyte development. The role of CSF1/CSF1R in normal mammary gland development is actually very interesting since this connection has also been discovered in the biology of breast cancer with the results of abnormal expression of CSF1 and its receptor. Likewise, in Alzheimer's disease and after brain injuries an increased level of CSF1R was found in the microglia, which causes the microglia to become more active.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2S (UBE2S) belongs to the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family. UBE2S is able to form a thiol ester linkage with ubiquitin in a ubiquitin activating enzyme-dependent manner, a typical property of ubiquitin carrier proteins. UBE2S catalyzes the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to other proteins. UBE2S acts as a crucial factor of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), which is a cell cycle-regulated ubiquitin ligase that controls progression through mitosis. UBE2S acts by purposely elongating 'Lys-11'-linked polyubiquitin chains initiated by the E2 enzyme UBE2C/UBCH10 on APC/C substrates, augmenting the degradation of APC/C substrates by the proteasome and promoting mitotic exit. UBE2S also acts by elongating ubiquitin chains initiated by the E2 enzyme UBE2D1/UBCH5 in vitro; it is nevertheless uncertain whether UBE2D1/UBCH5 acts as an E2 enzyme for the APC/C in vivo. UBE2S is also involved in ubiquitination and consequent degradation of VHL, resulting in an accumulation of HIF1A.

Tryptase alpha/beta-1 (TPSAB1) is a tryptase which is the key neutral protease present in mast cells and is discharged upon the coupled activation-degranulation response of this cell type. TPSAB1 is enzymatically active only as a heparin-stabilized tetramer, and is resistant to all known endogenous proteinase inhibitors. TPSAB1 is implicated as a mediator in the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic and inflammatory disorders.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is involved in endometrial menstrual breakdown, regulation of vascularization and the inflammatory response. MMP-2 contains a number of distinct domains: a prodomain that is cleaved upon activation; a catalytic domain containing the zinc binding site; a fibronectin like domain believed to have a role in substrate targeting; and a carboxyl terminal (hemopexin like) domain containing 2 N-linked glycosylation. The MMP-2 can degrade an extensive array of substrates including type IV, V, VII and X collagens as well as gelatin type I. In addition, MMP-2 interacts with THBS2, TIMP2, Thrombospondin 1, CCL7 and TIMP4. MMP-2 autocatalytic cleavage in the C-terminal generates the anti-angiogenic peptide, PEX. This process seems to be made possible by binding integrinv/beta3. Defects in the MMP-2 are the cause of Torg-Winchester syndrome (TWS), aka multicentric osteolysis nodulosis and arthropathy (MONA).

CA, also known as carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme. Its main function revolves around the CO2 + H2O HCO3- + H+ (conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate & protons). CA has a zinc ion in its active site. The main function of CA is to keep acid-base balance in the blood stream and various tissues. This enzyme also assists Carbonic Anhydrase I to move CO2 to and from tissues.

Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) is an enzyme that is a member of the MMP extracellular protease family. Extracellular protease enzymes, by virtue of their broad substrate specificities1, play a role in both normal and disease states of tissue proliferation. Among the targets of MMP-13 are collagen, gelatin, entactin, pro-TNF-a, and chemokine SDF-11-4.
MMP-13 is found in its latent form as a 52-56 kDa glycosylated proenzyme. Upon cleavage the 22-46 kDa5 MMP-1 becomes active in extracellular matrix remodeling.
Because of the prominent role that MMP-1 plays in cell migration and metastasis, it is an important target for inhibition screening.

Stem cell factor / KIT ligand (SCF) is a cytokine which binds CD117(c-Kit). SCF is also known as "steel factor" or "c-kit ligand". SCF exists in two forms, cell surface bound SCF and soluble (or free) SCF. Soluble SCF is produced by the cleavage of surface bound SCF by metalloproteases. SCF is a growth factor important for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and other hematopoietic progenitor cells. One of its roles is to change the BFU-E (burst-forming unit-erythroid) cells, which are the earliest erythrocyte precursors in the erythrocytic series, into the CFU-E (colony-forming unit-erythroid).

POLR2H is an essential and highly conserved subunit of RNA polymerase II which is shared by the other 2 eukaryotic DNA-directed RNA polymerases, I and III. The three eukaryotic RNA polymerases are complex multisubunit enzymes which play a vital role in the transcription of nuclear genes. POLR2H encodes an essential and highly conserved subunit of RNA polymerase II which is shared by the other two eukaryotic DNA-directed RNA polymerases, I and III.

Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic, Alpha 6 (CHRNA6) is a part of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) family. nAChRs are heteropentameric ligand-gated ion channels generating from the assembly of alpha and beta protein subunits. After binding acetylcholine, the AChRs respond by a major change in conformation which affects all subunits and leads to opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. CHRNA6 receptors have a rather selective localization to the nigrostriatal pathway.

Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L3 belongs to a gene family whose products hydrolyze small C-terminal adducts of ubiquitin to produce the ubiquitin monomer. UCHL3 takes part in the regulation of neuronal development and spermatogenesis and is associated to neurodegenerative diseases. UCHL3 has a 54% homology to UCHL1.

Prolactin is a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized primarily by the pituitary gland but also a variety of other cell types including the placenta, brain and uterus. Prolactin’s primary function is to promote and maintain lactation and also in breast cancer development, regulation of reproductive function and immunoregulation.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) is also known as "extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2" (ERK2). Two similar (85% sequence identity) protein kinases were originally called ERK1 and ERK2. They were found during a search for protein kinases that are rapidly phosphorylated after activation of cell surface tyrosine kinases such as the epidermal growth factor receptor. Phosphorylation of ERKs leads to the activation of their kinase activity.The molecular events linking cell surface receptors to activation of ERKs are complex. It was found that Ras GTP-binding proteins are involved in the activation of ERKs. Another protein kinase, Raf-1, was shown to phosphorylate a "MAPK kinase", thus qualifying as a "MAPK kinase kinase". The MAPK kinase was named "MAPK/ERK kinase" (MEK). Receptor-linked tyrosine kinases, Ras, Raf, MEK and MAPK could be fitted into a signaling cascade linking an extracellular signal to MAPK activation Transgenic gene knockout mice lacking MAPK1 have major defe

IL-32 is part of the cytokine family and contains a tyrosine sulfation site, 3 potential N-myristoylation sites, multiple putative phosphorylation sites, and an RGD cell-attachment sequence. IL-32 expression is elevated after the activation of T-cells by mitogens or the activation of NK cells by IL-2. IL-32 induces the production of TNF-a from macrophage cells. IL-32 pro-inflammatory pathway is activated in response to influenza A virus infection. Dysregulation of IL-32 in myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia modulates apoptosis and impairs NK function.
Induction of TNF, IL-1beta, and IL-6 by IL-32 is intervened by p38-MAPK. IL-32 induced monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation is mediated through nonapoptotic, caspase-3-dependent mechanisms. IL32 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. IL-32 is involved in activation-induced cell death in T cells, through its intracellular actions. IL-32 is a cell-associated proinflammatory cytokine, which is particularly stimulated by mycobacteria through a caspase-1- and IL-18-dependent production of IFNgamma.
IL-32 is associated with TNF-a, IL-1beta, and IL-18. IL32 is involved in human rheumatoid arthritis and is a novel target in autoimmune diseases.

Growth-Hormone is a member of the somatotropin/prolactin family of hormones which play an important role in growth control. The gene, along with four other related genes, is located at the growth hormone locus on chromosome 17 where they are interspersed in the same transcriptional orientation; an arrangement which is thought to have evolved by a series of gene duplications. The five genes share a remarkably high degree of sequence identity. Alternative splicing generates additional isoforms of each of the five growth hormones, leading to further diversity and potential for specialization. This particular family member is expressed in the pituitary but not in placental tissue as is the case for the other four genes in the growth hormone locus. Mutations in or deletions of the gene lead to growth hormone deficiency and short stature.

Cyclophilin B (also known as PPIB, peptidylpropyl isomerase B) is a cyclosporine-binding protein and is mainly located within the endoplasmic reticulum. It is associated with the secretory pathway and released in biological fluids. This protein can bind to cells derived from T- and B-lymphocytes, and may regulate cyclosporine A-mediated immunosuppression.