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PTX3 is part of the pentraxin family sharing the C-terminal domain with short pentraxins and containing a unique N-terminal domain. PTX3 is produced and released at inflammatory sites by various cell types including monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and adipocytes. PTX3 is involved in the regulation of innate resistance to pathogens, inflammatory reactions, possibly clearance of self-components and female fertility. PTX3 is used as a marker for disease activity of psoriasis. High serum PTX3 levels are associated with the disease severity of systemic sclerosis. Elevated serum PTX3 is associated with pulmonary fungal infections.

MAK16 is a member of the MAK16 family.

QDPR belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductase (SDR) family of enzymes. Operating as a homodimer, QDPR has an imperative role in the recycling of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a vital cofactor for the hydroxylation of the aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine). More precisely, QDPR catalyzes the regeneration of BH4 from quinonoid dihydrobiopterin (qBH2), the product generated from the hydroxylation reactions. Mutations in the QDPR gene may lead to phenylketonuria II.

Ubiquinone biosynthesis protein COQ9 (COQ9) represents a mitochondrial ubiquinone biosynthesis gene. The COQ9 protein is likely required for biosynthesis of coenzyme Q10, since mutations at this locus have been linked with autosomal-recessive neonatal-onset primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency.

Excess adiposity is the most important risk in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipose tissue produces several proteins (adipocytokines) such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-?, and IL-6, that modulate insulin sensitivity and appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms by which fat tissue induces insulin resistance and the role of adipocytokines in the pathogenesis of T2DM have not been well established.
Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and was originally isolated as a secreted factor that synergizes with IL-7 and stem cell factors to promote the growth of B cell precursors. Visfatin homologs have been identified in carp, invertebrate mollusks, and bacteria, as well as in vertebrates, including humans and the mouse. It has been postulated to play a role in innate immunity.
Visfatin exerts insulin-mimetic effects that are dose-dependent and quantitatively similar to those of insulin in stimulating muscle and adipocyte glucose transport, and in inhibiting hepatocyte glucose production. Intravenous injection of recombinant visfatin in mice decreased plasma glucose in a dose-dependent fashion. In keeping with its insulin-mimetic effects, visfatin was as effective as insulin in reducing hyperglycemia in insulin-deficient diabetic mice. Visfatin was also found to be bound to and activate insulin receptor, causing receptor phosphorylation and the activation of downstream signaling molecules. However, visfatin and insulin did not compete for binding to the insulin receptor, indicating that the two proteins were recognized by different regions of the receptor. Thus, visfatin might play a role in glucose homeostasis and dysregulation in biosynthesis or signal transduction, and might contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes.

Phl p 7.0101 is a secondary allergen of timothy grass pollen, which is non-glycosylated protein. Grass pollen-sensitized individuals show IgE antibodies in their blood system. Phl p 7.0101 is a calcium binding protein with similar sequence to pollen antigens that exist in different plants, hence, cross-reactions are possible.

TRIM21 is a member of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family. The TRIM motif includes three zinc-binding domains, a RING, a B-box type 1 and a B-box type 2, and a coiled-coil region. The 52 kDa Ro protein is part of the RoSSA ribonucleoprotein, which includes a single polypeptide and one of four small RNA molecules. The RoSSA particle localizes to both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Ro/SSA interacts with autoantigens in patients with Sjogren syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Ribonucleoprotein particle is composed of a single polypeptide and one of four small RNA molecules. The RoSSA is present in all mammalian cells studied but has no known function. At least 2 isoforms are present in nucleated and red blood cells, and tissue specific differences in Ro/SSA proteins were identified.

IL2 is a secreted cytokine that is important for the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. The receptor of this cytokine is a heterotrimeric protein complex whose gamma chain is also shared by interleukin 4 (IL4) and interleukin 7 (IL7). The expression of this gene in mature thymocytes is monoallelic, which represents an unusual regulatory mode for controlling the precise expression of a single gene. The targeted disruption of a similar gene in mice leads to ulcerative colitis-like disease, which suggests an essential role of this gene in the immune response to antigenic stimuli.

TRAF-interacting protein with FHA domain-containing protein A (TIFA) is an adapter protein that mediates the IRAK1 and TRAF6 interaction following IL-1 stimulation, triggering the downstream activation of NF-kappa-B and AP-1 pathways. The TIFA protein stimulates the oligomerization and polyubiquitination of TRAF6, leading to the activation of TAK1 and IKK through a proteasome-independent mechanism.

ME2 catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of malate to pyruvate, malat + NAD(P)+? pyruvate + CO2 + NAD(P)H+, and is found both in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Three different isoforms of ME are known to be in mammalian tissues: a strictly cytosolic NADP+-dependent enzyme, an NADP+-dependent mitochondriail isoform, and a mitochondrial isoenzyme that is able to use both NAD+ and NADP+ but is more effective with NAD+. The mammalian isoforms size is about 62-64 kDa. A native size of 240,000 Da proposes a tetrameric structure for the active enzyme.
Mitochondrial NAD+-dependent ME 2 activity is seen in tissues that experience many cell divisions, like spleen, thymus, and the basal cells of the small intestinal mucosa. ME2 is also expressed all through the rapid cleavage stages of early Xenopus development. Activity for this isoform is low or nonexistent in brain, muscle, and normal and regenerating liver tissue from rat but was observed in rat adrenal cortex, pigeon and human skeletal muscle, and in heart muscle of some species. In addition, it is expressed in mitochondria of all tumor cells inspected to detain ascites tumors, hepatoma cells, and a variety of other tumors and transformed cell lines.

PFN4 is a small actin-binding protein that participates in the dynamic turnover and restructuring of the actin cytoskeleton. PFN4 is localized in all eukaryotic organisms in the majority of cells. PFN4 is crucial for spatially and temporally controlled growth of actin microfilaments, which is a necessary process in cellular locomotion and cell shape changes.

MAGEA4 is part of the MAGEA family, which directs the expression of tumor antigens that are identified on a human melanoma by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). MAGEA4 participates in embryonal development and tumor transformation or aspects of tumor progression. MAGEA4 is expressed in many tumors of several types, such as melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lung carcinoma and breast carcinoma, but not in normal tissues except for testes and placenta.

Mediator complex subunit 4 (MED4) is a component of the Mediator complex, a coactivator involved in the regulated transcription of nearly all RNA polymerase II-dependent genes. MED4 is a component of the vitamin D receptor-interacting protein (DRIP) complex which functions as a nuclear receptor coactivator. The DRIP complex is able to activate nuclear receptors in a ligand-dependent manner. MED4 functions as a link to convey information from gene-specific regulatory proteins to the basal RNA polymerase II transcription apparatus. MED4 is recruited to promoters by direct interactions with regulatory proteins and serves as a scaffold for the assembly of a functional preinitiation complex with RNA polymerase II and the general transcription factors.

ENSA is an endogenous ligand for sulfonylurea receptor. ENSA reduces K(ATP) channel currents by inhibiting sulfonylurea from binding to the receptor and thus stimulates insulin secretion. Endosulfine Alpha is part of a conserved cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein (ARPP) family. Endosulfine Alpha is an endogenous ligand for the sulfonylurea receptor, ABCC8/SUR1. Endosulfine Alpha is an endogenous regulator of KATP channels. ENSA modulates insulin secretion through the interaction with KATP channel. ENSA is a candidate gene for type 2 diabetes. ENSA is expressed in a wide range of tissues including muscle, brain, and endocrine tissues.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. It is also synthesized by endothelial cells, which store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies. When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytose the particle. Upon processing, they release chemokines to signal other immune cells to come in to the site of inflammation. IL-8 is one such chemokine. It serves as a chemical signal that attracts neutrophils at the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor.

GALE is an enzyme that participates as the third enzyme in the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism. GALE is a homodimeric epimerase localized in bacterial, plant, and mammalian cells. GALE inhances the reverse chemical reaction, the conversion of UDP-glucose to UDP-galactose. UDP-galactose builds galactose-containing proteins and fats, which have a crucial part in chemical signaling, building cellular structures, transporting molecules, and producing energy.

GSTK1 is involved in cellular detoxification. GSTK1 is localized to the peroxisome and catalyzes the conjugation of the thiol group of glutathione (GSH) to the electrophilic groups of a broad range of hydrophobic substrates, leading to an easier removal of the latter from the cells.

GH 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.

AMPD2 is significant in purine metabolism by converting AMP to IMP. AMPD2 which functions as a homotetramer, is one of the three AMP deaminases shown in mammals. More than a few transcript variants encoding differentisoforms have been discovered for AMPD2.

A main factor of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains is a plasmid-encoded type 3 secretion system, through which Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) are injected into the host cell. Yop E is a GTPase activation protein which controls pore formation by activating small Rho GTPase, causing inhibition of actin polymerization.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 11 (CCL11) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that is also known as eotaxin. CCL11 selectively recruits eosinophils by inducing their chemotaxis, and therefore, is implicated in allergic responses. The effects of CCL11 are mediated by its binding to a G-protein-linked receptor known as a chemokine receptor. Chemokine receptors for which CCL11 is a ligand include CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5. The gene for human CCL11 (scya11) is encoded on three exons and is located on chromosome 17.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. It is also synthesized by endothelial cells, which store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies. When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytose the particle. Upon processing, they release chemokines to signal other immune cells to come in to the site of inflammation. IL-8 is one such chemokine. It serves as a chemical signal that attracts neutrophils at the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor.

Flagellin arranges itself in a hollow cylinder to create the filament in bacterial flagellum. Flagellin is the key substituent of bacterial flagellum, and is found in large quantities on almost all flagellated bacteria.

Actin is a muscle protein localized in the I band of the myofibrils; acting along with myosin, it is responsible for contraction and relaxation of muscle. Each actin protomer binds one molecule of ATP and has one high affinity site for either calcium or magnesium ions, as well as several low affinity sites. Actin exists as a monomer in low salt concentrations, but filaments form rapidly as salt concentration rises, with the consequent hydrolysis of ATP. It occurs in globular (G-actin) and fibrous (F-actin) forms. Actin is found in all eukaryotic cells (except for nematode sperm). Actin is one of the most highly-conserved proteins, differing by no more than 20% in species as diverse as algae and humans. Its other functions include cell motility, cell division and cytokinesis, vesicle and organelle movement, cell signaling, and the establishment and maintenance of cell junctions and cell shape.