Search results

KLRC3 belongs to the NKG2 group that can be found mostly in natural killer (NK) cells and encodes a family of transmembrane proteins known for their C-type lectin domain and their type II membrane orientation (extracellular C terminus). The NKG2 gene family is situated inside the NK complex, a region which has quite a few C-type lectin genes mostly expressed on NK cells.

There are four mitochondrial proteins composing the enzyme system for cleavage of glycine (glycine cleavage system): P protein, H protein, T protein, and L protein. GCSH is the H protein. GCSH transfers the methylamine group of glycine from the P protein to the T protein. Mutations in this gene results in nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH).

Gankyrin (proteasome 26S subunit) is a multicatalytic proteinase oncoprotein commonly overexpressed in most hepatocellular carcinomas. Proteasomes are found throughout eukaryotic cells at a high concentrations and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent process in a non-lysosomal pathway. Gankyrin interacts with S6 ATPase of the 19S regulatory particle of the 26S proteasome. Gankyrin is involved in theregulation of the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein by CDK4, and to enhance the ubiquitinylation of p53 by MDM2. Gankyrin consists of 7 ankyrin repeats and is structurally similar to I kappa Bs. Gankyrin acts as a regulatory subunit of the 26s proteasome which is involved in the atp-dependent degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. Gankyrin is involved in progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. gankyrin plays an oncogenic role especially in early stages of human epatocarcinogenesis. Gankyrin binds to NF-kappaB and suppresses its activity at the transcription level by modulating acetylation through SIRT1. Structural comparison between Gankyrin & p16(INK4A) identified numerous residues of gankyrin that are potentially important for CDK4 binding.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also called macrophage inflammatory protein 2-alpha (MIP2-alpha), Growth-regulated protein beta (Gro-beta) and Gro oncogene-2 (Gro-2). CXCL2 is 90% identical in amino acid sequence as a related chemokine, CXCL1. This chemokine is secreted by monocytes and macrophages and is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and hematopoietic stem cells. The gene for CXCL2 is located on human chromosome 4 in a cluster of other CXC chemokines. CXCL2 mobilizes cells by interacting with a cell surface chemokine receptor called CXCR2.

Gltathione S-transferase PI 2, also known as GSTP2 is multifunctional enzyme which is involved in the protection of cellular components against anti-cancer drugs or peroxidative stress. Furthermore, down regulation of GSTP2 induces an increase of oxidative damage in the pyramidal cells of the CA1&CA3 regions as well as in the granular layer of the dentate gyrus, which at the end leads to structural and functional damage.

VAMP8 also called endobrevin, is the main component of a SNARE complex involved in the docking and fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. VAMP8 protein is involved in the regulatation of enzyme secretion in pancreatic acinar cells and plays a part in the abscission of the midbody during cell division, which leads to completely separate daughter cells. VAMP8 is essential for dense-granule secretion in platelets. VAMP8 is related with the perinuclear vesicular structures of the early endocytic compartment. VAMP8 interacts particularly with the soluble NSF-attachment protein (alpha-SNAP), through an VAMP8-containing SNARE complex.

Methionine aminopeptidases and designated peptidase M proteins belong to the M24 family of proteins. MAP protein removes the amino-terminal methionine residue from nascent polypeptides. The active site of MAP contains 2 adjacent divalent metal ions connected by a water molecule or hydroxide ion.

MAP1LC3B is a member of the MAP1 LC3 family. MAP1LC3B is a subunit of neuronal microtubule-associated MAP1A and MAP1B proteins, that are involved in microtubule assembly and important for neurogenesis. In addition, MAP1LC3B takes part in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles and is expressed mainly in heart, testis, brain and skeletal muscle.

Resistin, a product of the RSTN gene, is a peptide hormone belonging to the class of cysteine-rich secreted proteins which is termed the RELM family, and is also described as ADSF (Adipose Tissue- Specific Secretory Factor) and FIZZ3 (Found in Inflammatory Zone). Human resistin contains 108 amino acids as a prepeptide, and its hydrofobic signal peptide is cleaved before its secretion. Resistin circulates in human blood as a dimeric protein consisting of two 92 amino acid polypeptides, which are disulfide-linked via Cys26.
Resistin may be an important link between obesity and insulin resistance. Mouse resistin, specifically produced and secreted by adipocyte, acts on skeletal muscle myocytes, hepatocytes and adipocytes themselves so that it reduces their sensitivity to insulin. Steppan et al. have suggested that resistin suppresses the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake. They have also suggested that resistin is present at elevated levels in blood of obese mice, and is down regulated by fasting and antidiabetic drugs. Way et al., on the other hand, have found that resistin expression is severly suppressed in obesity and is stimulated by several antidiabetic drugs.
Other studies have shown that mouse resistin increases during the differentiation of adipocytes, but it also seems to inhibit adipogenesis. In contrast, the human adipogenic differentiation is likely to be associated with a down regulation of resistin gene expression.

Glycine-N-Acyltransferase-Like 2 (GLYATL2) is a part of the glycine N-acyltransferase family expressed mainly in salivary gland and trachea. GLYATL2 is a mitochondrial acyltransferase that transfers the acyl group to the N-terminus of glycine. GLYATL2 conjugates numerous substrates, like arachidonoyl-CoA and saturated medium and longchain acyl-CoAs ranging from chain-length C8:0-CoA to C18:0-CoA, to form a variety of N-acylglycines. GLYATL2 also shows a preference for monounsaturated fatty acid oleoyl-CoA (C18:1-CoA) as an acyl donor.

Melanotan and Melanotan-II are both analogs of the peptide hormone alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) that tend to induce skin tanning. Unlike Melanotan, Melanotan-II has the additional effect of increasing libido. Melanotan II has aphrodisiac properties.

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.

Histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) is a member of the class 1 of the histone deacetylase/acuc/apha family. HDAC8 is biologically involved in skull morphogenesis and metabolic control of the ERR-alpha/PGC1-alpha transcriptional complex. Histones play a key role in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression, and developmental events. Histone acetylation/deacetylation modifies chromosome structure and affects transcription factor access to DNA.

Complement Factor D (Adipsin), which belongs to the trypsin family of peptidases, is involved in the alternative complement pathway of the complement system where it cleaves factor B. In the alternative complement pathway, Adipsin is best known for its role in humoral suppression of infectious agents. In addition, Adipsin is a serine protease which is secreted by adipocytes into the bloodstream. Ultimately, Adipsin has a high level of expression in fat, proposing a role for adipose tissue in immune system biology.

DECR1 is a mitochondrial protein which exists as a homotetramer and is a member of a family of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases. DECR1 acts as an auxiliary enzyme of beta-oxidation andt partakes in the metabolism of unsaturated fatty enoyl-CoA esters. in particular, DECR1 uses NADP+ to catalyze the reduction of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA to yield trans-3-enoyl-CoA that can subsequently be used as an intermediate in the Krebs cycle. Furthermore, DECR1 is believed to work as a tumor suppressor, possibly downregulating the expression of Neu and slowing the rate of tumorigenesis.

Alpha 1-microglobulin (A1M) is a lipocalin superfamily member (kernal lipocalins). A1M is a low molecular weight protein component of plasma. A1M is distributed in plasma and extravascular compartments of all organs. Alpha-1 Microglobulin is found in mammals, birds, amphibians and fish. The primary sites of A1M synthesis are the liver and the kidney. Around the opening of the lipocalin pocket three lysyl residues are situated; those residues carry yellow-brown modification derived from the binding and degradation of heme and kynurenin (a tryptophan metabolite). A1-Microglobulin’s reductase and dehydrogenase have broad biological substrate specificity properties due to its’ free cysteine side-chain which is located in a flexible loop. Alpha-1-microglobulin is glycosylated by three separate carbohydrate chains: two complex carbohydrates which are N-linked to asparagines at residues 17 and 96, and the other simple carbohydrate which is O-linked to threonine at position 5. The carbohydrates comprise 22% of the total molecular mass of the protein. The glycosylation varies between species.
A1M exists in two forms- a free form and complexed to other macromolecules: in humans- complexed to immunoglobulin A (IgA), in rat- complexed to alpha-1-inhibitor-3. Free A1M is exceptionally heterogeneous in charge (therefore also known as protein HC), and is found tightly linked to a chromophore. The free Alpha-1-microglobulin is a monomeric protein composed of one 188 residue polypeptide and contains three cysteines, two of which (residues 75 and 173) form a conserved intra-molecular disulphide link. The chromophoric group is covalently bound to the free cysteine residue at position 34. A1M binds retinol as a major ligand, but this is probably distinct from its covalent chromophore.
Half of all human plasma A1M (approximately 0.03mg/ml) forms a 1:1 complex with about 5% of plasma immunoglobulin A. The resulting macromolecular complexes’ molecular weight is 200000, and a plasma concentration of 0.3mg/ml. The complex can exhibit both antibody activity and affect many of the biological actions of free Alpha-1-microglobulin.
Alpha-1-microglobulin was first discovered in pathological human urine.
It was suggested that A1M might be involved in tissue defense against reactive oxygen species, oxidation by heme and kynurenin. Evidence also suggests that A1M functions in the regulation of the immune system. Other functions include inhibition of stimulation of cultured lymphocytes by protein antigens; induction of cell division of lymphocytes, a mitogenic effect that can either be enhanced or inhibited by the action of other plasma components; inhibition of neutrophil granulocyte migration in vitro; and inhibition of chemotaxis.

E2 17-beta-dehydrogenase 1 (HSD17B1) is a member of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family. The HSD17B1 protein advances the reduction of estrogens and androgens. In addition, the HSD17B1 has a 20-alpha-HSD activity. HSD17B1 preferentially uses NADH.

DLST catalyzes the general transformation of 2-oxoglutarate to succinyl-CoA and CO(2). DLST holds multiple copies of 3 enzymatic components: 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (E1), dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (E2) and lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3).

ASCC1 is a subunit of the triggering signal cointegrator 1 (ASC-1) complex which is a transcriptional coactivator. ASC-1 complex takes a vital part in gene transactivation using various transcription factors such as activating protein 1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) and serum response factor (SRF). ASCC1 has an N-terminal KH-type RNA-binding motif, essential for AP-1 transactivation by the ASC-1 complex. Alterations in ASCC1 result in Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase [NAD] subunit gamma (IDH3G) mitochondrial is a member of the isocitrate and isopropylmalate dehydrogenases family. Isocitrate dehydrogenases catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate to 2-oxoglutarate. The IDH3G is a gamma subunit of one isozyme of isocitrate dehydrogenase which belongs to a distinct subclass, which utilizes NAD(+) as the electron acceptor, and is restricted to the mitochondrial matrix.

BAG3 Inhibits the chaperone activity of HSP70/HSC70 by promoting substrate release. BAG3 has anti-apoptotic activity. BAG proteins participate with Hip for their binding to Hsc70/Hsp70 ATPase domain and encourage substrate release. BAG proteins have about 45 amino acid BAG domain close to the C terminus however they differ noticeably in their N-terminal regions. BAG3 includes a WW domain in the N-terminal region and a BAG domain in the C-terminal region. The BAG domains of BAG1, BAG2, and BAG3 interact particularly with the Hsc70 ATPase domain in vitro and in mammalian cells. They bind with high affinity to the ATPase domain of Hsc70 and inhibit its chaperone activity in a Hip-repressible manner. BAG3 plays a role as a protein-refolding cochaperone of the bcl2 binding protein BAG family and as upregulated in response to persistent stress of cellular calcium balance dysregulation. BAG3 has been shown to diminish stress-induced apoptosis.

Epoxide Hydrolase 1 Microsomal (EPHX1) is a vital biotransformation enzyme which transfers epoxides from the degradation of aromatic compounds to trans-dihydrodiols that can be conjugated and excreted from the body. Epoxide hydrolase plays a role in both activation and detoxification of epoxides. Mutations in EPHX1 trigger preeclampsia, epoxide hydrolase deficiency or increased epoxide hydrolase activity.

STMN2 is a neuronal growth-associated protein which shares a majority of its amino acid sequence with the phosphoprotein stathmin. STMN2 is involved in neuronal differentiation and in modulating membrane interaction with the cytoskeleton through neurite outgrowth. STMN2 is necessary for maintaining the anchorage-independent growth state of beta-catenin/TCF-activated hepatoma cells. SCG10 is a novel indicator of osteogenesis and osteoblast that takes part in the regulation of the adipocyte/osteoblast balance. STMN2 plays a role as an effector downstream of Rnd1 to regulate axon extensions by modulating microtubule organization.

Transcriptional adapter 3 (TATD3) is a subunit of 2 histone acetyltransferase complexes, which functions as a component of the PCAF complex. TATD3 is a transcriptional activator adaptor that is also associates with the tumor suppressor protein p53 and is essential for full activity of p53 and p53-mediated apoptosis.