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Leptin is a protein hormone. It is mainly produced in adipose cells that regulate energy homeostasis by restraining hunger. Leptin ties to nuclear receptors in the hypothalamus (arcuate nucleus). Similar to insulin resistance in type II diabetes, in obesity there is a decrease in the sensitivity towards leptin, ending in a failure to identify satiety, even in high levels of energy stores or leptin itself. Full-length cDNA encoding 2 leptin sequences (tLepA and tLepB) and 1 leptin receptor sequence (tLepR) exists in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The full-length cDNA of tLepR is 3423 bp, encoding a protein of 1140 amino acid which contained all functionally important domains conserved among vertebrate leptin receptors. The cDNAs of tLepA and tLepB are 486 bp and 459 bp in length, encoding proteins of 161 aa and 152 aa, respectively. The three-dimensional structures of tLepA and tLepB demonstrates strong conservation of tertiary structure with that of human leptin comprised of 4 helixes.

Cathepsin-L also known as CTSL is a member of the peptidase C1 family. CTSL, is a dimer composed of disulfide-linked heavy and light chains, both formed from a single protein precursor. Furthermore, CTSL is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase which takes a main part in intracellular protein catabolism. CTSL substrates include collagen and elastin, as well as alpha-1 protease inhibitor, which is the most important controlling element of neutrophil elastase activity. CTSL has been implicated in a number of pathologic processes, including myofibril necrosis in myopathies and in myocardial ischemia, and in the renal tubular response to proteinuria. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for CTSL.

PDGFRa is a cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor for PDGF family members. PDGFRa binds to both A and B subunits of PDGF. It is known that PDGFRa is vital for kidney development since mice heterozygous for the receptor display defective kidney phenotypes.

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is an enzyme located in the cell membrane (bound to it) that is able to dissolve biologically active proteins and is expressed on the surface of lymphoid progenitors, human podocytes, syncytiotrophoblastic cells, and many other epithelial cells including polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Cathepsin-Z (CTSZ) is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase and a member of the peptidase C1 family. CTSZ, which is known also as cathepsin X and cathepsin P, exhibits carboxy-monopeptidase and carboxy-dipeptidase activities. CTSZ is expressed ubiquitously in cancer cell lines and primary tumors and as other members of this family, takes part in tumorigenesis.

STX12 is a member of the syntaxin family which are cellular receptors for transport of vesicles that take part in exocytosis in neutrophils. STX12 regulates protein transport from late endosomes and the trans-Golgi network and back. Additionally, STX12 cooperates with ABC1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1), which enables cellular release of cholesterol and choline-phospholipids to apoA-I (apolipoprotein A-I).

TLR3 (Toll-like receptor 3) belongs to the toll-like receptor family which takes an essential part in pathogen recognition as well as activation of innate immunity. TLR3 has innate immune receptors for sensing microbial molecules in addition to damage-associated molecular patterns released from host cells. TLR3 recognizes dsRNA and activation of the receptor which induces the activation of NF-kappaB and the production of type I interferons. TLR3 signaling activation is related with ischemic preconditioning-induced protection against brain ischemia and attenuation of reactive astrogliosis. TLR3 is most plentifully expressed in the placenta & pancreas, and is limited to the dendritic subpopulation of the leukocytes.

GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFRA1) belongs to the GDNF receptor family. GFRA1 is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol(GPI)-linked cell surface receptor for both Glial cell line-derived growth factor (GDNF), neurturin (NTN), and mediates activation of the RET tyrosine kinase receptor. The GFRA1 protein is a potent survival factor for central and peripheral neurons, and is vital for the development of kidneys and the enteric nervous system.

TXNDC12 is a member of the thioredoxin super family. This Family members have a thioredoxin fold with a consensus active-site sequence (CxxC) and take part in redox regulation, protection against oxidative stress, refolding of disulfide-containing proteins, and regulation of transcription factors.

Thymosin is a hormone secreted from the thymus. Its primary function is to stimulate the production of T cells, which are an important part of the immune system. Thymosin also assists in the development of B cells to plasma cells to produce antibodies. The predominant form of thymosin, thymosin b4, is a member of a highly conserved family of actin monomer-sequestering proteins. b-thymosins are the primary regulators of unpolymerized actin, and are essential for maintaining the small cytoplasmic pool of free G-actin monomers required for rapid filament elongation and allowing for the flux of monomers between the thymosin-bound pool and F-actin.

ACTN1 encodes a nonmuscle, cytoskeletal, alpha actinin isoform and maps to the same site as the structurally similar erythroid beta spectrin gene. Alpha actinins belong to the spectrin gene superfamily which represents a diverse group of cytoskeletal proteins, including the alpha and beta spectrins and dystrophins. Alpha actinin is an actin-binding protein with multiple roles in different cell types. In nonmuscle cells, the cytoskeletal isoform is found along microfilament bundles and adherens-type junctions, where it is involved in binding actin to the membrane. In contrast, skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle isoforms are localized to the Z-disc and analogous dense bodies, where they help anchor the myofibrillar actin filaments.

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-α, 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 h

CRABP1 is a member of special carrier proteins for members of the vitamin A family. It is believed that CRABP1 has an essential role in retinoic acid-mediated differentiation and proliferation processes. Though, CRABP1 is structurally similar to the cellular retinol-binding proteins, it binds only retinoic acid at specific sites within the nucleus, which may contribute to vitamin A-directed differentiation in epithelial tissue. CRABP1 is constitutively expressed and is thought to have different functions in the cell than the related CRABP2. CRABP1 forms a beta-barrel structure which accommodates hydrophobic ligands in its interior. Loss of CRABP1 function as a result of hypermethylation of its promoter leads to pathogenesis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Furthermore, frequent methylation-associated silencing of CRABP1 is linked to esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma.

Calpain, Small Subunit 1 (CAPNS1) belongs to the calpain small subunit family. Calpains are a ubiquitous, well-conserved family of calcium-dependent, cysteine proteases, widely distributed in mammalian cells. Calpain families are implicated in neurodegenerative processes, considering that their activation can be triggered by calcium influx and oxidative stress. Calpains function as heterodimers, comprising a specific large catalytic subunit (calpain 1 subunit in Calpain I, and calpain 2 subunit in Calpain II), and a common small regulatory subunit encoded by the CAPNS1 gene. The CAPNS1 protein is vital for the stability and function of both calpain heterodimers, whose proteolytic activities influence numerous cellular functions including apoptosis, proliferation, migration, adhesion, and autophagy.

Numerous forms of Bartonellosis are caused by Bartonella henselae as well as Cat Scratch Disease & Bacillary Angiomatosis. It has been found that up to 95% of patients with Cat Scratch Disease show antibodies against Bartonella henselae antigens.

P17 is the 1st antigen which was discovered to be strongly reactive with sera from Cat Scratch Disease patients. Bartonella henselae participates in host recognition by the type IV secretion system as a homolog of the virB5 family.

Highly immunoreactive proteins which are produced by the Bartonella henselae are the most important antigens used for the diagnosis of Cat Scratch Disease.

Numerous forms of Bartonellosis are caused by Bartonella henselae as well as Cat Scratch Disease & Bacillary Angiomatosis. It has been found that up to 95% of patients with Cat Scratch Disease show antibodies against Bartonella henselae antigens.

Highly immunoreactive proteins which are produced by the Bartonella henselae are the most important antigens used for the diagnosis of Cat Scratch Disease.

Bartonella henselae of outer membrane protein p26 has an important nucleotide identity with orthologs in Bartonella spp, Brucella spp in addition to more than a few plant-associated bacteria.

GARS is an (alpha)2 dimer which is a member of the class II family of tRNA synthetases. GARS is a glycyl-tRNA synthetase, one of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases which charge tRNAs with their cognate amino acids. GARS catalyzes the attachment of glycine to tRNA(Gly). In addition, GARS is able to produce diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A), which is a universal pleiotropic signaling molecule required for cell regulation pathways, by direct condensation of two ATPs. GARS has been demonstrated to be a target of autoantibodies in the human autoimmune diseases, polymyositis or dermatomyositis.

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.

PRDX2 is part of the peroxiredoxin family of antioxidant enzymes, which reduce hydrogen peroxide and alkyl hydroperoxides. PRDX2 takes part as an antioxidant protective role in cells, and contributes to the antiviral activity of CD8(+) T-cells. PRDX2 has proliferative effect in cancer development or progression.
If PRDX2 protection is insufficient against peroxidases, the DNA damage results in neurological disease such as Alzheimer's or DNA damage leading to cancer.

Dendritic cell and monocyte chemokinelike protein (DMC/CXCL17/VEGF-correlated chemokine 1/VCC1), is a secreted molecule with a size and predicted 3-dimensional folding pattern similar to that of chemokines CXCL8/IL8 and CXCL14/BRAK. CXCL17 is constitutively generated by airway and intestinal epithelium. CXCL17 induces the chemotaxis of quiescent, but not LPS-activated peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cells, and it also binds these cells specifically. The expression of CXCL17 is increased in endothelial cells when they are induced to form tubes in vitro. CXCL17, CXCL1/GRO and CXCL8/IL8 which have roles in angiogenesis, show significantly correlated expression with that of VEGF in primary lung, breast and esophageal tumors. Therefore, CXCL17 is suggested to have a role in tumor angiogenesis. The mature Rat CXCL17 shares 82%, 71% amino acid sequence identity with mouse, human CXCL17, respectively.

Oncomodulin is a member of the superfamily of calmodulin proteins, otherwise known as the EF-hand proteins. It is a high-affinity calcium ion-binding protein. Oncomodulin is an oncodevelopmental protein which is found in early embryonic cells in the placenta and also in tumors.

Carbohydrate Sulfotransferase 3 (CHST3) belong to sulfotransferase 1 family which iincludes 14 enzymes that all members are Golgi-localized type II membrane proteins. These enzymes utilizes 3'-phospho-5'-adenylyl sulfate (PAPS) as sulfonate donor to catalyze the transfer of sulfate to position 6 of the N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) residue of chondroitin. CHST3 can also sulfate Gal residues of keratan sulfate and Gal residues in sialyl N-acetyllactosamine (sialyl LacNAc) oligosaccharides. CHST3 is expressed in heart, placenta, skeletal muscle and pancreas. CHST3 takes part in maintenance of naive T-lymphocytes in the spleen.

CXADR Like Membrane Protein or CLMP, part of the CTX family within the immunoglobulin superfamily, is a type 1 transmembrane peptide. CLMP is expressed in the placenta and small intensine, skeletal muscle, colon, lungs and heart. CLMP is located in junction complexes across endothelial and epithelial cells and can take part in cell adhesion. The protein has influence on development of obesity via adipocyte differentiation.