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The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a family of secreted signaling molecules that can induce ectopic bone growth. Many BMPs are part of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) superfamily. BMPs were originally identified by an ability of demineralized bone extract to induce endochondral osteogenesis in vivo in an extraskeletal site. Based on its expression early in embryogenesis, the BMP encoded by this gene has a proposed role in early development. In addition, the fact that this BMP is closely related to BMP5 and BMP7 has lead to speculation of possible bone inductive activity.

Midkine (MK) is the product of a retinoic acid responsive gene, MK, and is a member of a family of heparin binding factors. It contains 121 amino acid residues including 10 conserved cysteine residues, all of which appear to be disulphide linked.
Midkine is expressed during embryogenesis, showing an expression pattern that suggests functions in neurogenesis, cell migration, secondary organogenetic induction, and mesoderm-epithelial interaction.
The widespread downregulation of MK in the adult human is reverted in a number of cancers, in which polypeptides are able to act as both transforming growth factors and promoters of angiogenesis.
Midkine (MK), induces chemotaxis of human neutrophils and was found to trigger mobilization of intracellular calcium of these cells.
Midkine induces histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells with a rapid response in a dose dependent manner.
Midkine is also a potent stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

Progastricsin-C (PGC) is an aspartic proteinase which is synthesized in the gastric mucosa as inactive precursors. PGC is a part of the peptidase family A1 and contains a prosegment which is responsible for stabilizing the inactive form and preventing the entrance of the substrate to the active site. PGC is used as a biomarker for various gastric diseases including Helicobacter pylori related gastritis. PGC is also hydrolyzes various proteins.

NTRK2 plays a role in the growth and the development of the central and the peripheral nervous systems using the regulation of neuron proliferation, migration, survival, differentiation, and synapse production. NTRK2 is a receptor for B-DNF and NT4. NTRK2 binds to neurotrophin-3 which regulates neuron survival through NTRK2. NTRK-2 activates numerous effectors such as SHC-1, SH2B-1, PLCG-1 and SH2B-2 that control overlapping signaling cascades.

The type II transmembrane protein FASLG is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. A fas ligand/receptor interaction has a significant part in the regulation of the immune system and the advancement of cancer. FASLG is expressed on the activated T cell surface as a nondisulfidelinked homotrimer. FASLG binding to Fas/CD95/TNFRSF6 on a nearby cell prompts apoptosis in the Fas expressing cell. FASLG is released from the cell surface by metalloproteinases as a soluble molecule that stays trimeric and is able to bind with Fas, but its capability to activate apoptosis is radically reduced. In addition, FASLG binds to DcR3 - a soluble trap receptor with no signal transduction capabilities. Flawed Fas-mediated apoptosis causes oncogenesis in addition to drug resistance in existing tumors. Constitutive expression of FASLG in a variety of tumors enables their immune evasion. Both mouse and human FASLG are active on mouse and human cells.

B-Cell Maturation Antigen or TNFRSF17 or tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17, is part of the TNF receptor protein family. This protein is a TNFSF13B/BLyS/BAFF, TNFSF13/APRIL & promotes B-cell survival receptor. TNFRSF17 has a crucial part in the humoral immunity regulation. This protein is responsible for the activation of NF-kappa-B & JNK.

NXT1 operates as a nuclear export factor in both RAN and CRM1 dependent pathways. NXT1 is known to stimulate the export of U1 snRNA in RAN (Ras-related nuclear protein) and CRM1 (chromosome region maintenance) dependent pathways and the export of tRNA and mRNA in a CRM1-independent pathway. This protein heterodimerizes with Tap protein and regulates the ability of Tap protein to intermediate nuclear mRNA export.

REG protein was shown to be stimulated during the regeneration of pancreatic islets. Since then, many Reg-related proteins have been identified in humans and other animals. In human, the four REG family genes, i.e., REG 1 alpha, REG 1 beta, REG-related sequence (RS) and HIP/PAP, have so far been isolated. These Reg-related proteins are classified into four subfamilies according to their amino-acid sequences, but they share a similar structure and physiological function. Reg protein is a growth factor for pancreatic beta cells and also suggests that the administration of Reg protein could be used as another therapeutic approach for diabetes mellitus. Human REG cDNA which encodes a 166-amino acid protein with a 22-amino acid signal peptide. The amino acid sequence of human REG protein has 68% homology to that of rat Reg protein.
Reg I was found to be expressed mainly in pancreatic beta and acinoductular cells as well as gastric fundic enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells. Reg I production in ECL cells is stimulated by gastrin, as well as by the proinflammatory cytokine, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-2Beta. In patients with chronic hypergastrinemia, Reg production is stimulated, with the increased proliferation of gastric mucosal cells. Patients with Helicobacter pylori infection also showed increased Reg production in the gastric mucosa, partly via increased plasma gastrin concentration and partly via increased proinflammatory cytokine production. The serum concentration of the reg-protein was significantly higher in patients with various pancreatic diseases than in normal controls, and was also significantly higher in patients with acute pancreatitis or chronic relapsing pancreatitis than in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Furthermore, the serum PSP/reg-protein concentration was also significantly increased in liver cirrhosis, choledocholithiasis, and various cancers of the digestive system.

APRIL which is a part of the TNF ligand superfamily (TNFSF13) is a type II transmembrane protein. Normally, APRIL expression is low in tissues, but is elevated in numerous types of tumors and transformed cell lines.

Proteins of the TFF family are characterized by obtaining a minimum of 1 copy of the trefoil motif, a 40-amino acid domain that contains 3 conserved disulfides. Trefoil Factors are stable secretory proteins expressed in gastrointestinal mucosa which protect the mucosa from insults, stabilize the mucus layer and affect healing of the epithelium.TFF2 inhibits gastric acid motility & secretion. TFF2 stabilizes glycoproteins in the mucus gel through interactions with carbohydrate side chains.

Polypeptide hormones secreted by the parathyroid glands, which promote release of calcium from bone to extracellular fluid by activating osteoblasts and inhibiting osteoclasts, indirectly promote increased intestinal absorption of calcium, and promote renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and increased renal excretion of phosphates. It is a major regulator of bone metabolism. Secretion of parathyroid hormone increases when the level of calcium in the extracellular fluid is low. Its action is opposed by calcitonin.
PTH (7-34), which is a PTH/PTHrP receptor antagonist, can stimulate hair growth and epidermal proliferation in mice.

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.

FGFR1 oncogene partner (FGFR1OP) is a member of the FGFR1OP family. The FGFR1OP protein is an essentially hydrophilic protein proposed to be a leucine-rich protein family member. A t(6;8)(q27;p11) chromosomal translocation, fusing the FGFR1OP gene and the FGFR1 gene, is seen in cases of myeloproliferative disorder. The ensuing chimeric protein contains the N-terminal leucine-rich region of the FGFR1OP protein fused to the catalytic domain of FGFR1. The FGFR1OP gene is believed to play a significant role in normal proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid lineage.

PGK2 is a testis-specific form of phosphoglycerate kinase. Originally presumed to be a pseudogene, the PGK2 protein is actually a functional phosphoglycerate kinase which catalyzes the reversible conversion of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to 3-phosphoglycerate, during the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway of glycolysis, in the later stages of spermatogenesis. The PGK2 gene is intronless, results from retrotransposition of the phosphoglycerate kinase 1 gene, and is expressed specifically in the testis.

Cleavage stimulation factor subunit 1 (CSTF1) is involved in the polyadenylation and 3'end cleavage of pre-mRNAs. The CSTF1 gene encodes one of three subunits which merge to produce cleavage stimulation factor (CSTF). Like the mammalian G protein beta subunits, CSTF1 contains transducin-like repeats. CSTF1 is one of the numerous factors necessary for polyadenylation and 3'-end cleavage of mammalian pre-mRNAs. CSTF1 is responsible for the interaction of CSTF with other factors to create a stable complex on the pre-mRNA.

The GAGA factor is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein, which participates in the regulation of the expression of a variety of different classes of genes in Drosophila such as many developmentally regulated genes, stress induced genes, and cell cycle regulated genes, as well as housekeeping genes. GAGA contains a C-terminal glutamine-rich domain and a highly conserved N-terminal POZ domain which reported to be involved in self-oligomerization in a number of other POZ domain containing proteins. In case of GAGA protein, the N-terminal POZ domain mediates the formation of oligomers both in vitro and in vivo.

Von Willebrand Factor A Domain Containing 2 (VWA2) is an extracellular matrix protein containing vWA-like domains. VWA2 contains a signal peptide sequence, an N-terminal VWA domain connected to 2 additional tandem vWA domains by a cysteine-rich sequence and an EGF-like domain. Also, another EGF-like domain is located at the C-terminus. Expression of VWA2 is induced in stage II, III and IV colon cancers and colon adenomas and is considered a novel serum marker for the diagnosis of early-stage colon cancer.

Somatostatin (also known as growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH) or somatotropin release-inhibiting hormone (SRIF) is a peptide hormone that regulates the endocrine systemand affects neurotransmission and cell proliferation via interaction with G-protein-coupled somatostatin receptors and inhibition of the release of numerous secondary hormones. Somatostatin has two active forms produced by alternative cleavage of a single preproprotein: one of 14 amino acids, the other of 28 amino acids.

Thrombopoietin is a glycoprotein hormone produced mainly by the liver and the kidney which regulates the production of platelets by the bone marrow. TPO stimulates the production as well as differentiation of megakaryocytes, the bone marrow cells which fragment into large numbers of platelets.

EMG1 is a 244 aa protein which has a role in ribosome biogenesis. EMG1 is a key protein in the small ribosomal subunit assembly, controls methylation during ribosome synthesis and takes part in pre-18S rRNA processing. EMG1 is localized to the nucleolus and a mutation in this gene is linked with Bowen-Conradi syndrome.

Basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3), which is a member of the NAC-beta family, forms a stable complex with RNA polymerase II. The BTF3 protein is vital for the initiation of transcription.

Prothrombin produced in the liver is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein. Before prothrombin is secreted into the plasma it goes through post translational modification by vitamin K-dependent carboxylase. The vitamin K-dependent carboxylase convertsprothrombin to 10 glutamic acid residues to gamma carboxyglutamic acid. Prothrombin comprises of 2 kringle regions which are found among residues a.a. 40 & 270 of the mature plasma protein and substitute the growth factor domains located in numerous plasma serine proteases.

DFF is a heterodimeric protein of 40kDa (DFFB) and 45kDa (DFFA) subunits. DFFA (DNA fragmentation factor subunit alpha) is the substrate for caspase-3 and triggers DNA fragmentation during apoptosis. DFF is activated once DFFA is cleaved by caspase-3. The cleaved fragments of DFFA detach from DFFB (the active component of DFF), which in turn triggers DNA fragmentation as well as chromatin condensation during apoptosis. Apoptosis is accompanied by shrinkage and fragmentation of the cells and nuclei and degradation of the chromosomal DNA into nucleosomal units.
A reduced level of DFFA detected in ovarian endometriosis may be a part of an apoptosis-resistant mechanism enhancing the disease progression.
DFFA at chromosome 1 shows rare allelic variants in neuroblastoma tumors.