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A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

Glypican 4, also known as GPC4, is part of a family of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) which take part in the control of cell division and growth regulation. GPC4 is broadly expressed in human tissues, including lung, kidney, heart, placenta, skeletal muscle, and pancreas. In addition, GPC4 has been shown to be present in astrocytes, haematopoietic-progenitor and bone-marrow-stromal cells.

Chloride channels are various group of proteins that control fundamental cellular processes including stabilization of cell membrane potential, transepithelial transport, regulation of intracellular pH, and maintenance of cell volume. CLIC1 is part of the p64 family and is localized to the cell nucleus. CLIC1 displays both nuclear and plasma membrane chloride ion channel activity. CLIC1 inserts into membranes and forms chloride ion channels. CLIC1 channel activity depends on the pH. CLIC1 membrane insertion is redox-regulated and happens under oxydizing conditions.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice with experimentally induced allergic pulmonary inflammation contains a novel 9.4 kDa cysteine-rich secreted protein, RELM-alpha (FIZZ1, found in inflammatory zone). RELM-alpha is a secreted protein that has a restricted tissue distribution with highest levels in adipose tissue stroma. Murine RELM-alpha (FIZZ1) is the founding member of a new gene family including two other murine genes expressed, respectively, in intestinal crypt epithelium (RELM-beta) and white adipose tissue (Resistin), and two related human genes.
RELMalpha inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes but has no effect on proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. RELMalpha is able to form heterooligomers with resistin but not RELMbeta. Since RELMalpha is expressed by adipose tissue and it is a secreted factor, our findings suggest that RELMalpha may be involved in the control of the adipogenesis as well as in the process of muscle differentiation.
In the lung, RELM-alpha is induced by hypoxia and was renamed as hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF). HIMF strongly activated Akt phosphorylation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 (10 micromol/L) inhibited HIMF-activated Akt phosphorylation. It also inhibited HIMF stimulated RPSM proliferation. Thus, the PI3K/Akt pathway, at least in part, mediates the proliferative effect of HIMF. Further studies showed that HIMF had angiogenic and vasoconstrictive properties. HIMF increased pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance. Further studies suggest that HIMF regulates apoptosis and may participate in lung alveolarization and maturation.

Recombinant Human Sonic Hedgehog is part of a small group of secreted proteins that are vital for development in both vertebrates and invertebrates. 3 mammalian hedgehog genes (sonic, desert, Indian) share about 60% homology. The Human Sonic Hedgehog is 99% homologous to the mouse gene. Sonic HedgeHog is a protein that is vital in guding the early embryo. It has been associated as the major inductive signal in patterning of the ventral neural tube, the anterior-posterior limb axis, and the ventral somites. Sonic HedgeHog binds to the patched receptor, which functions in association with smoothened, to activate the transcription of target genes. In the absence of sonic HedgeHog, patched receptor represses the constitutive signaling activity of smoothened. Sonic HedgeHog also regulates another factor, the gli oncogene. Sonic HedgeHog intercellular signal is essential for a various patterning events during development: signal produced by the notochord that induces ventral cell fate in the neural tube and somites, and the polarizing signal for patterning of the anterior-posterior axis of the developing limb bud. Sonic HedgeHog exhibits both floor plate- and motor neuron-inducing activity. Mutations in a long-range Sonic HedgeHog enhancer located in an intron of the limb region 1 gene result in preaxial polydactyly.

Lumican also known as LUM is a part of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) family which comprises decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin, keratocan, epiphycan, and osteoglycin. Furthermore, we can see that in these bifunctional molecules, the protein moiety binds collagen fibrils and the highly charged hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans regulate interfibrillar spacings. Lumican is the main keratan sulfate proteoglycan of the cornea however LUM is also distributed in interstitial collagenous matrices throughout the body. Lumican regulates collagen fibril organization and circumferential growth, corneal transparency, epithelial cell migration and tissue repair.

Dynactin 6, also known as DCTN6 is a member of the dynactin subunits 5/6 family. DCTN6 includes an RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) motif in the N-terminal region, which confers adhesive properties to macromolecular proteins such as fibronectin. DCTN6 has a high degree of sequence resemblance with the mouse homolog, which has been found to participate in mitochondrial biogenesis. Moreover, the precise biological function of DCTN6 is unknown.

Dyneins are multi-subunit, high molecular weight ATPases which cooperate with microtubules to create energy by altering the chemical energy of ATP into the mechanical energy of movement. DYNLL2 is a large protein complex made up of six different subunits and is in charge of a large number of intracellular movements to the minus ends of microtubules. DYNLL2 is an extremely conserved eukaryotic hub protein with dozens of binding partners and numerous roles other than being a subunit of dynein and myosin Va motor proteins.

Leptin Receptor is a part of the gp130 family of cytokine receptors that stimulate gene transcription by activating cytosolic STAT proteins. Leptin Receptor plays a role in the regulation of fat metabolism and in novel hematopoietic pathway that is obligatory for normal lymphopoiesis. Leptin Receptorparticipates in the regulation of counter-regulatory response to hypoglycemia by inhibiting neurons of the parabrachial nucleus.Leptin Receptoraffectsspecifically on T lymphocyte responses.

Glucagon is an important hormone involved in carbohydrate metabolism. The hormone is synthesized and secreted from alpha cells (a-cells) of the islets of Langerhans, which are located in the endocrine portion of the pancreas. Glucagon is released when the glucose level in the blood is low (hypoglycemia), causing the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. The action of glucagon is thus opposite to that of insulin, which instructs the body's cells to take in glucose from the blood in times of satiation.
Glucagon is beneficial for the culture of some cell types. It has been used in some biochemical regulation studies of glycogenolysis in hepatocytes. It has been also been found to induce DNA replication in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes when used in combinations with EGF and Insulin. Glucagon increases the blood glucose concentration by promoting rapid breakdown of liver glycogen, and also acts to relax smooth muscle such as the gastrointestinal tract.

SDCBP2 has two class II PDZ domains. PDZ domains assist protein-protein interactions by attaching to the cytoplasmic C-terminus of transmembrane proteins, and PDZ-containing proteins mediate cell signaling and the organization of protein complexes. SDCBP2 attaches to phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and take part in nuclear PIP2 arrangement and cell division.

Ubiquitin-like domain-containing CTD phosphatase 1 (UBLCP1) dephosphorylates 26S nuclear proteasomes, thereby decreasing their proteolytic activity. The dephosphorylation averts assembly of the core and regulatory particles (CP and RP) into mature 26S proteasome.

Zwilch Kinetochore Protein which is also known as ZWILCH is a part of the ZWILCH family. ZWILCH is a vital part of the mitotic checkpoint. ZWILCH prevents the cells from exiting mitosis prematurely. ZWILCH is also necessary for the assembly of the dyneindynactin and MAD1-MAD2 complexes onto kinetochores.

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II DO Beta (HLA-DOB) is a part of the HLA class II beta chain paralogues. This class II beta chain is a heterodimer which is located in intracellular vesicles and consists of an alpha (DOA) and a beta chain (DOB), both anchored in the membrane. HLA-DOB which interacts with the HLA-DM molecule in B-cells is a significant modulator in the HLA class II restricted antigen presentation pathway. Class II molecules are expressed in antigen presenting cells such as B lymphocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages.

Tubby-related protein 1 (TULP1) belongs to the TULP family of 4 proteins (TUB and TULP1, -2, and -3), categorized structurally by the highly conserved C-terminal half of the protein. Tubby-like gene family (TULPs) members are found in plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates and encode proteins of unknown function. TULP proteins share a conserved C-terminal region of roughly 200 amino acid residues. In the retina, TULP1 is observed exclusively in the photoreceptor cells, localizing predominantly in the inner segments and connecting cilium and to a lesser degree in the perinuclear cytoplasm and synaptic termini. TULP1 gene mutations are linked with retinitis pigmentosa.

Dickkopf-related protein 3 (DKK3) belongs to the DKK protein family including Dkk-1, 2, 3 and -4. DKK3 is a 350 amino acid secreted glycoprotein which is comprised of an N-terminal signal peptide and 2 conserved cysteine-rich domains that are separated by a 12 amino acid linker region. DKK3 is involved in embryonic development through its inhibition of the WNT signaling pathway. DKK3 gene expression is decreased in a variety of cancer cell lines and it may act as a tumor suppressor gene.

Endothelial sialomucin (Endomucin) interferes with the assembly of focal adhesion complexes and inhibits interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix. Endomucin is expressed in the heart, kidney and lung.

Sialic Acid Binding Ig Like Lectin 5, also known as SIGLEC5 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and SIGLEC family. SIGLEC5 contains of 2 Ig-like C2-type domains and 1 Ig-like V-type domain. In addition, SIGLEC5 is expressed by monocytic/myeloid lineage cells. SIGLEC5 is expressed at high levels in peripheral blood leukocytes, spleen, and at lower levels in lymph node, appendix, pancreas, lung, and thymus.

HBsAg is the surface antigenof the Hepatitis-B-Virus (HBV). The capsidof a virus has different surface proteins from the rest of the virus. The antigen is a protein that binds specifically on one of these surface proteins. It is commonly referred to as the Australian Antigen.

B-cell CLL/lymphoma 7C (BCL7C) is identified by the likeness of its product to the N-terminal region of BCL7A protein. The BCL7A protein is encoded by the gene which is directly involved in a three-way gene translocation in a Burkitt lymphoma cell line. The function of the BCL7C gene has not been determined yet.

Bcl2 modifying factor, is a member of the Bcl2 protein family of apoptosis mediators. Bcl2 modifying factor is widely expressed in many tissues.
Bcl2 modifying factor contains a single Bcl2 homology domain 3 (BH3), and binds Bcl2 proteins and functions as an apoptotic activator. Also, Bcl2 modifying factor is important for histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors which alters the balance between acetylation and deacetylation, significantly increasing histone acetylation, while strongly inducing apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell types. Bcl2 modifying factor supports Bim in regulating cell death processes in response to many stimuli. A synergistic role for bim and Bcl2 modifying factor in an apoptotic pathway leading to the clearance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae -infected cells.

Glypican-3 (GPC3) belongs to the glypican family, and is highly expressed in the lung, liver, and the kidney. In some tissues, GPC3 functionss as a tumor suppressor gene and an oncofetal protein. The Glypican-3 protein is currently considered as a tumor marker and potential target for immunotherapy. Glypican-3 binds to and inhibits the dipeptidyl peptidase activity of CD26, and it can also induce apoptosis in certain cell types. Deletion mutations in the GPC3 gene are linked with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, aka Simpson dysmorphia syndrome.