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The somatomedins, or insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), comprise a family of peptides that play important roles in mammalian growth and development. IGF1 mediates many of the growth-promoting effects of growth hormone (GH; MIM 139250). Early studies showed that growth hormone did not directly stimulate the incorporation of sulfate into cartilage, but rather acted through a serum factor, termed 'sulfation factor,' which later became known as 'somatomedin' (Daughaday et al., 1972). Three main somatomedins have been characterized: somatomedin C (IGF1), somatomedin A (IGF2; MIM 147470), and somatomedin B (MIM 193190) (Rotwein, 1986; Rosenfeld, 2003).

Lysophospholipase-like protein 1 (LYPLAL1) is a member of the AB hydrolase 2 family. LYPLAL1 doesn’t exhibit phospholipase nor triacylglycerol lipase activity, able to hydrolyze only short chain substrates as a result of its shallow active site.

This gene is a member of the EPO/TPO family and encodes a secreted, glycosylated cytokine composed of four alpha helical bundles. The protein is found in the plasma and regulates red cell production by promoting erythroid differentiation and initiating hemoglobin synthesis. This protein also has neuroprotective activity against a variety of potential brain injuries and antiapoptotic functions in several tissue types.

Terlipressin is similar to a naturally occurring hormone present in the body, known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or vasopressin. ADH has two main effects in the body. Firstly, it causes narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction), thereby limiting blood flow to a particular area of the body. It also acts on receptors in the kidney to retain water in the body, which helps to prevent excessive loss of water in the urine. Terlipressin is commonly used to stop bleeding of varices in the food pipe (oesophagus). Varices are fragile distended veins that can occur in various parts of the body such as the oesophagus. This is caused by an increase in blood pressure in certain diseases such as severe liver disease. These fragile varices can rupture and lead to life threatening bleeding. Terlipressin is therefore given to narrow blood vessels, and so restricting blood flow to the varices and stopping the bleeding.

This gene is a member of the EPO/TPO family and encodes a secreted, glycosylated cytokine composed of four alpha helical bundles. The protein is found in the plasma and regulates red cell production by promoting erythroid differentiation and initiating hemoglobin synthesis. This protein also has neuroprotective activity against a variety of potential brain injuries and antiapoptotic functions in several tissue types.

TEV protease is the common name for the 27 kDa catalytic domain of the Nuclear Inclusion a (NIa) protein encoded by the tobacco etch virus (TEV). Because its sequence specificity is far more stringent than that of factor Xa, thrombin, or enterokinase, TEV protease is a very useful reagent for cleaving fusion proteins. TEV protease recognizes a linear epitope of the general form E-Xaa-Xaa-Y -Xaa-Q-(G/S), with cleavage occurring between Q and G or Q and S. The most commonly used sequence is ENLYFQG.

Scavenger mRNA-decapping enzyme (DCPS) is a member of the HIT family. DCPS is required for the complete degradation of mRNAs, both in normal mRNA turnover and in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. It was shown that DCPS hydrolyzes the residual m7GpppN cap structure after the complete 3'–5' degradation of the mRNA by the exosome. Furthermore, DCPS releases m7GMP and is incapable of cleaving cap structures attached to a long RNA chain.

SERPINA5 up regulates TAFI activation by inhibiting the protein C activation. SERPINA5 is a significant regulator in the equilibrium between coagulation and fibrinolysis by differentially inhibiting the activation of TAFI and of Protein-C. SERPINA5 belongs to the serpin serine proteinase inhibitor family. SERPINA5 protein inhibits plasminogen activators as well as activated protein C.
SERPINA5 is secreted in plasma & liver. SERPINA5 is involved in cell inflammation, proliferation, apoptosis, tumour cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, SERPINA5 controls the invasive potential of renal cell carcinoma by inhibiting urinary plasminogen activator secreted by the cells. SERPINA5 participtes in regulating key serine proteases which are involved in metastatic prostate disease.

Serum-and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK1) is a serine/threonine protein kinase and a member of the “AGC” subfamily, which includes protein kinases A, G, and C. The SGK1 protein has an imperative role in activating specific potassium, sodium and chloride channels, suggesting a participation in the regulation of processes such as cell survival, neuronal excitability, and renal sodium excretion. SGK1 is activated in vitro by PDK-1 (3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1) and in vivo in reaction to signals which activate phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase.

26S proteasome complex subunit DSS1 (SHFM1) has been suggested as a candidate gene for the autosomal dominant form of the heterogeneous limb developmental disorder split hand/split foot malformation type 1. SHFM1 is a subunit of the 26S proteasome which plays a part in ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. SHFM1 binds and stabilizes BRCA2 and is therefore involved in the control of R-loop-associated DNA damage and thus transcription-associated genomic instability. Furthermore, SHFM1 may have a role in the completion of the cell cycle. SHFM1 is a component of the TREX-2 complex (transcription and export complex 2), comprised of at least ENY2, GANP, PCID2, DSS1, and either centrin CETN2 or CETN3.

APTX is a DNA-binding protein which participates in single-strand DNA break repair, double-strand DNA break repair and base excision repair. APTX determines abortive DNA ligation intermediates created each at base excision sites, or while DNA ligases attempt to restore non-ligatable breaks induced by reactive oxygen species. APTX catalyzes the release of adenylate groups covalently linked to 5''-phosphate termini, resulting in the production of 5''-phosphate termini that can be efficiently rejoined. APTX hydrolyzes adenosine 5''-monophosphoramidate (AMP-NH(2)) and diadenosine tetraphosphate (AppppA), but with lower catalytic activity.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 or ICAM1 is a protein, part of the ICAM family of proteins. ICAM1 acts as ligand for integrin alpha-L/beta-2 which is a leukocyte adhesion peptide. Amid migration of leukocytes ICAM1 promotes endothelial apical assembly cups via activation of ARHGEF26/SGEF & RHOG.

TBP-Like 1 (TBPL1) is a member of the TBP family. The TATA box-binding protein (TBP) is an indispensable component of the basal transcriptional machinery. TBPL1 is crucial for spermiogenesis and supposed to be significant in expression of developmentally regulated genes.

GADD45GIP1 is a nuclear protein which takes part in apoptosis control. GADD45GIP1 is expressed in several tissues, such as heart, thyroid, trachea, kidney, ovary, pancreas, testis and stomach and acts as a negative regulator of G1 to S phase cell cycle production by collaborating with GADD45 proteins to inhibit the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases.

TPM1 is a member of the tropomyosin family which consists of a number of extremely conserved, extensively distributed 35-45 kDa actin-binding proteins that are involved in the contractile system of striated and smooth muscles and the cytoskeleton of non-muscle cells. Tropomyosin-1 is composed of 2 alpha-helical chains arranged as a coiled-coil. TPM1 is polymerized end to end alongside the two grooves of actin filaments and provides stability to the filaments. TPM1 binds to actin filaments in muscle and non-muscle cells. TPM1 also functions in association with the troponin complex to regulate the calcium-dependent interaction of actin and myosin during muscle contraction. In non-muscle cells TPM1 is implicated in stabilizing cytoskeleton actin filaments. Smooth muscle contraction is controlled by interaction with caldesmon.
Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding a range of isoforms have been described in smooth muscle and non-muscle cells. TPM1 Isoform 1 is expressed in adult and fetal skeletal muscle and cardiac tissues, with higher expression levels in the cardiac tissues, whereas Isoform 10 is expressed in adult and fetal cardiac tissues, but not in skeletal muscle.
Mutations in the TPM1 gene are linked to type 3 familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Cadherin-5 (CDH5) belongs to the atypical/type 2 subgroup of Cadherin homophilic adhesion proteins. Cadherin-5 is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, which is comprised of 5 extracellular cadherin repeats, a transmembrane region and a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail. Cadherin-5 protein plays a role in the formation, maturation and remodeling of the vascular wall. CDH5 is generally considered to be specific for vascular endothelia in which it is either the sole or the predominant cadherin, often co-existing with N-cadherin. Moreover, the CDH5 protein regulates or is regulated by VEGF R2, type 1 and type 2 TGF-beta receptors, and other endothelial junction proteins such as JAM-C, Claudin-5, and N-Cadherin. CDH5 also connects with alpha-catenin forming a link to the cytoskeleton. CDH5 functions jointly with KRIT1 to create and maintain correct endothelial cell polarity and vascular lumen. Furthermore, Cadherin-5 is essential for activation of PRKCZ and for the localization of phosphorylated PRKCZ, PARD3, TIAM1 and RAP1B to the cell junction. The CDH5 gene is located in a gene cluster in a region on the long arm of chromosome 16 which is involved in loss of heterozygosity events in breast and prostate cancer.

Non-Metastatic Cells 2 or NME2, is a protein, that acts as a nucleoside diphosphate kinase. This protein is of a heterodimeric structure and has 152 aa A & B polypeptide chains that builds the whole protein. Erythrocyte NDP kinase beta subunit has an identical structure to NME2. NDP kinases linked to nucleoside triphosphates synthesis and it appears as though NME2 takes part in regulating signal transduction.

Paraoxonase-1 or PON1 is part of the paraoxonase group of proteins. PON1 is an enzyme, responsible to the toxic metabolites of a different of organophosphorus insecticides hydrolyzation. Furthermore, PON1 is a dominant anti-atherosclerotic part of HDL. The enzyme needs PPAR-gamma for activation, leading to synthesis and release of paraoxonase 1 from the liver tissue, resulting in atherosclerosis reduction. PON1 has many qualities for atheroprotective through inflammatory lipid peroxides metabolism. This enzyme can hydrolyze a large number of substrates, for example cyclic carbonates, lactones, nerve gases etc.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor belongs to the CCN family of proteins. The CCN family presently consists of six members in human also known as: Cyr61 (Cystein rich 61), CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor), Nov (Nephroblastoma Overexpressed gene), WISP-1, 2 and 3 (Wnt-1 Induced Secreted Proteins). The CCN genes encode secreted proteins associated with the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cell membrane.
CCN proteins are matricellular proteins which are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including: proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. They are expressed in derivatives of the three embryonic sheets and are implicated in the development of kidney, nervous system, muscle, bone marrow, cartilage and bone. During adulthood, they are implicated in wound healing, bone fracture repair, and pathologies such as: fibrosis, vascular ailments and tumorigenesis.
Full length secreted CCN proteins can show an antiproliferative activity, whereas truncated isoforms are likely to stimulate proliferation and behave as oncogenes.
The full length protein consists of four modules: Module I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs).
Module II includes a stretch of 70amino acid residues – which shares sequence identity with the Von Willebrand Factor Type C repeat (VWC).
Module III contains sequences sharing identity with the Thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) (WSXCSXXCG), which is thought to be implicated in the binding of sulfated glycoconjugates and to be important for cell adhesion.
Module IV, also designated CT, is encoded by exon5. It is the leasts conserved one of the four domains at the level of nucleotide sequence, but it appears to be critical for several of the biological functions attributed to the CCN proteins. Module IV resembles the CT domain of several extracellular protein including, Von Willebrand's factor and mucins. Sequence similarities to heparin-binding motifs are also found within this domain.
Proteolysis of the secreted full-length CCN proteins that has been reported in the case of CCN2 and CCN3 might result in the production of CCN-derived peptides with high affinity for ligands that full-length CNN proteins bind only poorly. Amino-truncated CCN2 isoforms were biologically active whereas no specific biological activity has been attributed to the truncated CCN3. Although the molecular processes underlying the production of these secreted isoforms is presently unknown, it is important to note that proteolysis occur at the same amino acid residues in both CCN2 and CCN3. An elevated expression of CCN2 has also been detected by Northern blotting in human invasive mammary ductal carcinomas, dermatofibromas, pyogenic granuloma, endothelial cells of angiolipomas and angioleiomyomas, and in pancreatic tumors. A study performed with chondrosarcomas representative of various histological grades established that CCN2 expression was closely correlated with increasing levels of malignancy.
In agreement with CCN2 playing a role in brain tumor angiogenesis, immunocytochemistry studies indicated that both glioblastoma tumor cells and proliferating endothelial cells stained positive for CCN2. In astrocytomas, CCN2 expression was particularly elevated in high grade tumors, with a marked effect of CCN2 on cell proliferation. Downregulation of CCN2 expression in these cells was associated with a growth arrest at the G1/S transition while over-expression of CCN2 induced a two-fold increase of the number of cells in the G1 phase. Gene profiling analysis allowed to identify a set of about 50 genes whose expression might account for the proliferative activity of CCN2 in these cells.
CCN2 was seen in a higher proportion of mononuclear cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

MGP is vital for the regulation of calcification in the extracellular matrix, particularly in cartilage and arteries. The K-dependent vitamin MGP has five to six residues of Gla, a Ca2+ binding amino acid crucial for vitamin K-dependent gamma carboxylase for its formation. MGP is formed by COOH-terminal processing by carboxypeptidase B-like enzymatic activity and localized in the human bone.

Mature T-Cell Proliferation 1, also known as MTCP1 was recognized by involvement in some t(X;14) translocations linked with mature T-cellproliferations. This region has a complex gene structure, with a common promoter and 5' exon spliced to two dissimilar sets of 3' exons which encode two different proteins. It represents the upstream 13 kDa protein which belongs to the TCL1 family. In addition, MTCP1 enhances the phosphorylation and activation of AKT1 and AKT2. MTCP1 is involved in leukemogenesis.Among the diseases associated with MTCP1 are queensland tick typhus, and african tick-bite fever.

Sarcoglycan Beta, also known as SGCB, is a part of the sarcoglycan family. SGCB belongs to the sarcoglycan complex which is a subcomplex of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex that connects between the F-actin cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix.

a-Synuclein (amino acids 1-140), an acidic neuronal protein of 140 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant and is natively unfolded with an extended structure primarily composed of random coils. a-synuclein has been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and more recently, to be an important regulatory component of vesicular transport in neuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies have shown that a-synuclein has chaperone activity and that this activity is lost upon removing its C-terminal acidic tail (amino acids 96-140).