Search results

PEDF is a noninhibitory serpin with neurotrophic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-tumorigenic properties. PEDF is a 50,000 dalton glycoprotein created and secreted in many tissues all the way through the body. A key component of the anti-angiogenic action of PEDF is the induction of apoptosis in proliferating endothelial cells. Additionally, PEDF is capable to inhibit the activity of angiogenic factors such as VEGF and FGF-2. The neuro-protective effects of PEDF are achieved through suppression of neuronal apoptosis induced by peroxide, glutamate, or other neurotoxins. The recognition of a lipase-linked cell membrane receptor for PEDF (PEDF-R) that binds to PEDF with high affinity should facilitate further elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of this pluripotent serpin. To date, PEDF-R is the only signaling receptor known to be used by a serpin family member. The unique range of PEDF activities associate it as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of vasculature related neurodegenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). PEDF in addition has the potential to be functional in the treatment of various angiogenesis-related diseases including a number of cancers.

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.

Mmitochondrial import receptor subunit TOMM20 homolog (TOMM20) is a member of the Tom20 family. The Tom machinery consists of import receptors for the initial binding of cytosolically synthesized preproteins and a general import pore (GIP) for the membrane translocation of various preproteins into the mitochondria. TOMM20 acts as the transit peptide receptor at the surface of the mitochondrion outer membrane and facilitates the movement of preproteins into the TOM40 translocation pore.

GST family of enzymes comprises a long list of cytosolic, mitochondrial, and microsomal proteins that are 45-55 kDa (dimer form) size and are capable of multiple reactions with a multitude of substrates, both endogenous and xenobiotic. GST catalyses the conjugation of reduced glutathione meaning the sulfhydryl group, to electrophilic centers on a wide variety of substrates. This activity is useful in the detoxification of endogenous compounds such as peroxidised lipids, as well as the metabolism of xenobiotics. GST binds toxins and function as transport protein. Glutathione S-transferase is used to create the so-called 'GST gene fusion system'. The GST is used to purify and detect proteins of interest. In a GST gene fusion system, the GST sequence is incorporated into an expression vector alongside the gene sequence encoding the protein of interest. Induction of protein expression from the vector's multiple cloning sites results in expression of a fusion protein - the protein of interest fused to the GST protein. This GST-fusion protein can then be purified from cells via its high affinity for glutathione. Fusion proteins offer an important biological assay for direct protein-to-protein interactions. The GST tag has the size of 220 amino acids, which, compared to other tags like the myc- or the FLAG-tag, is quite big. It is fused to the N-terminus of a protein. However, many commercially-available sources of GST-tagged plasmids include a thrombin domain for cleavage of the GST tag during protein purification. A GST-tag is often used to separate and purify proteins that contain the GST-fusion. GST-fusion proteins can be produced in Escherichia coli, as recombinant proteins.

Il-6 is a cytokine with a wide variety of biological functions: it plays an essential role in the final differentiation of b-cells into ig-secreting cells, it induces myeloma and plasmacytoma growth, it induces nerve cells differentiation, in hepatocytes it induces acute phase reactants.

Interleukin 10 receptor, alpha subunit or CDW210A, is a part of the IL-10 receptor. This protein is encoded by the IL10RA gene in humans. IL10RA is a receptor for IL-10 (interleukin 10), it is part of the interferon receptors family. This protein is responsible for the inhibition of interferon receptors synthesis by taking part in the immunosuppressive signal of interleukin 10. Among its other roles are the insulin receptor substrate-2/PI 3-kinase/AKT pathway and phosphorylation of JAK1 and TYK2 kinases.

IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine that stimulates the production of IFNgamma from T-cells and natural killer cells, and also induces differentiation of Th1 helper cells. IL-12 is an initiator of cell-mediated immunity.

IFN Regulatory Factor-5, also known as IRF5 belongs to the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family, a group of transcription factors with various functions, including virus-mediated activation of IFN, and modulation of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune system activity. Members of the IRF family are characterized by a conserved N-terminal DNA-binding domain containing tryptophan (W) repeats. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. In addition, IRF5 is implicated in the induction of IFNs IFNA and INFB and inflammatory cytokines upon virus infection. IRF5 is activated by TLR7 or TLR8 signaling.

The clinical use of the potent anti-tumor activity of TNF-a has been limited by the proinflammatory side effects including fever, dose-limiting hypotension, hepatotoxicity, intravascular thrombosis, and hemorrhage. Designing clinically applicable TNF-a mutants with low systemic toxicity has been an intense pharmacological interest. Human TNF-a, which binds to the murine TNF-R55 but not to the mouse TNF-R75, exhibits retained anti-tumor activity and reduced systemic toxicity in mice compared with murine TNF-a, which binds to both murine TNF receptors. Based on these results, many TNF-? mutants that selectively bind to TNF-R55 have been designed. These mutants displayed cytotoxic activities on tumor cell lines in vitro, and exhibited lower systemic toxicity in vivo.
Recombinant Human TNF-a Variant/Mutant compared with the wild-type, has an amino acid sequence deletion from a.a. 1-7, and the following a.a. substitutes Arg8, Lys9, Arg10 and Phe157 which is proven tohave more activity and with less inflammatory side effect in vivo.

DNA repair protein complementing XP-A cells, (XPA), is a member of the XPA family. XPA protein takes a part in DNA excision repair. It Inductees repair by binding to damaged sites with different affinities depending on the photoproduct and the transcriptional state of the region. Defects in XPA is the reason of xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A (XP-A), which is infrequent human autosomal recessive disease which characterized by solar sensitivity, high predisposition for developing cancers on areas exposed to sunlight, also may cause to neurological abnormalities.

Galectin14, aka LGALS14, is a member of the galectin family of carbohydrate binding proteins. Galectin family members contain one or two carbohydrate recognition domains, which can bind beta-galactoside. The LGALS14 gene is predominantly expressed in the placenta. LGALS14 is expressed intracellularly in the placenta and eosinophils and is released by eosinophils following allergen stimulation. LGALS14 may be involved in the development of allergic inflammation.

IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine that stimulates the production of IFNgamma from T-cells and natural killer cells, and also induces differentiation of Th1 helper cells. It is an initiator of cell-mediated immunity.

Interleukin-1 ra is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. This protein inhibits the activities of interleukin 1, alpha (IL1A) and interleukin 1, beta (IL1B), and modulates a variety of interleukin 1 related immune and inflammatory responses. This gene and five other closely related cytokine genes form a gene cluster spanning approximately 400 kb on chromosome 2. A polymorphism of this gene is reported to be associated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures and gastric cancer. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

Thrombospondin-4 (THBS4) is a member of the thrombospondin protein family. This family members are adhesive glycoproteins that mediate cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions. THBS4forms a pentamer and binds to heparin and calcium. Among them THBS4binds a variety of matrix proteins including Collagens I, II, III, V, Laminin‑1, Matrilin‑2 and Fibronectin. THBS4 is up‑regulated in the spinal cord following peripheral nerve injury where it contributes to presynaptic hypersensitivity and hyperalgesia and is also up‑regulated in muscle following denervation.

CB1 cannabinoid receptor-interacting protein 1 (CNRIP1) is a 164 amino acid protein and G-protein coupled receptor which is a member of the CNRIP family. The CNRIP1 interacts with the C-terminal tail of cannabinoid receptor 1. CNRIP1 is expressed in the brain tissue and, at low levels, in the testis. CNRIP1 is involved in appetite, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection and analgesia.

sRANK Receptor is a part of of the TNF superfamily of ligands and receptors which participates in the regulation of specific immunity and bone turnover. sRANK Receptor was originally acknowledged as a dendritic-cell-membrane protein, which by interacting with RANKL augments the capacity of dendritic cells to stimulate naive T cell proliferation and to endorse the survival of RANK and T cells. The full length human RANK cDNA encodes a type I transmembrane protein of 616 amino acids with a predicted 183 amino acid extracellular domain and a 383 amino acid cytoplasmic domain. sRANK Receptor is also expressed in a various tissues including skeletal muscle, thymus, liver, colon, small intestine and adrenal gland.

The MutS DNA Mismatch Protein Identifies heteroduplex DNAs comprising mis-paired or unpaired bases. The MutS DNA Mismatch Protein binds in vitro to heteroduplex DNAs comprising mis-paired or unpaired bases over a varied temperature range from 4-70 °C and obtains a thermostable ATPase activity. The MutS DNA Mismatch Protein is active at temperature between 0 to 75°C. Since The MutS DNA Mismatch Protein competently binds to 1-4 bases deletion (or insertion) and mismatch base pairs of GT, CT and AG, it is suitable for sensing these mutations. Mutations can be distinguished in polyacrylamide gels or on a solid phase such as Ni agarose or beads or magnetic Ni-NTA particles.

Ectonucleoside Triphosphate Diphosphohydrolase 3, also known as ENTPD3, which owns a threefold preference for the hydrolysis of ATP over ADP is similar to E-type nucleotidases (NTPases). ENTPD3 is a protein coding gene which contains four apyrase-conserved areas which is characteristic of NTPases.

interleukin 12 subunit beta/alpha or IL12b/IL12a is a growth factor cytokine which increases the lytic activity of NK/lymphokine-activated killer cells, activated T and NK cells and prompt IFN-gamma production (through resting PBMC). IL12b/IL12a is a crucial part to the process of cellular-immunity and activates the differentiation of Th1 cells originates from the precursor T helper cells. The protein is linked to IL23A and creates the IL-23 interleukin, by that, the autoimmune inflammation is induced and autoimmune inflammatory diseases and tumorigenesis are being affected.

Interleukin-7 receptor (IL7R) ,is a hematopoietin receptor superfamily member. IL7R takes a vital part in lymphocyte differentiation, proliferation, multiple sclerosis, as well as survival. IL7R protein signaling is vital for T-cell development and regulation of native and memory T-cell homeostasis. Likewise, IL7R is critically needed for the proper function & development of lymphoid cells.

Caspase 3 Apoptosis-Related Cysteine Peptidase (CASP3) belongs to the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family. Sequential activation of caspases plays a key role in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis. Caspases exist as inactive proenzymes which undergo proteolytic processing at conserved aspartic residues to generate 2 subunits, large and small, that dimerize to create the active enzyme. CASP3 protein cleaves and activates caspases 6, 7 and 9, and the protein itself is processed by caspases 8, 9 and 10. CASP3 is the leading caspase involved in the cleavage of amyloid-beta 4A precursor protein, which is linked with neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. In addition, CASP3 is involved in the cleavage of huntingtin. CASP3 also cleaves and activates sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) between the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper domain and the membrane attachment domain. CASP3 initiates cell adhesion in sympathetic neurons through RET cleavage.

Human IL-17A/F is a 40kDa glycoprotein which is secreted as a disulfide-linked heterodimer. IL-17A/F consists of two proteins of the IL-17 family, IL-17A and IL17F. Proteins of the 6 homodimeric IL17 family show a cysteine knot motif that contains two disulfide-bonds. Human IL17A is produced as a 155 a.a precursor that includes a 23 amino acids signal sequence and a 132 amino acid chain that includes an N-linked glycosylation site. Human IL17F is produced as a 153 amino acid precursor with a 20 amino acid signal sequence and a 133 amino acid region. Similar to IL17A, IL17F also has an N-linked glycosylation site. Both proteins (IL17A & IL17F) share 50% amino acid sequence identity. Human IL17A & IL17F show approximately 60% homology in their amino acid sequence to mouse IL-17A and IL-17F. Interleukin-17A/F and IL17A, IL17F homodimers are manufactured by activted CD4+ T cells, called Th17. IL-23 causes Th17 lymphocytes to manufacture IL-17A/F. IL17RA and IL17RC form a heterodimer for the binding of IL17A and IL17F. IL-17A/F binds IL-17RA. Interleukin-17A/F induces chemokine production and airway neutrophilia with intermediate potency between IL17A (most potent) and IL17F (least potent).

Rubella virus is an enveloped positive-strand RNA virus of the family TOGAVIRIDAE: Virions are composed of three structural proteins: a capsid and two membrane-spanning glycoproteins, E2 and E1. During virus assembly, the capsid interacts with genomic RNA to form nucleocapsids. The rubella virus (RV) structural proteins: capsid, E2, and E1 are synthesized as a polyprotein precursor. The signal peptide that initiates translocation of E2 into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum remains attached to the carboxy terminus of the capsid protein after cleavage by signal peptidase.

Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important signaling protein involved in both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. As its name implies, VEGF activity has been mostly studied on cells of the vascular endothelium, although it does have effects on a number of other cell types (e.g. stimulation monocyte/ macrophagemigration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells ).VEGF mediates increased vascular permeability, induces angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial cell growth, promotes cell migration, and inhibits apoptosis. In vitro, VEGF has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesisand cell migration. VEGF is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor. Elevated levels of this protein are linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.