Search results

Bromodomain Containing 3 (BRD3) was classified based on its homology to the gene encoding the RING3 protein, which is a serine/threonine kinase. The BRD3 protein localizes to 9q34, a region which contains a number of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. The function of the BRD3 protein is unknown.

Mitotic checkpoint protein BUB3,( BUB3), is a saved component of the mitotic spindle assembly complex (MCC). The encoded protein has 4 WD repeat domains and has a similar sequence as the yeast BUB3 protein. BUB3 is vital for the kinetochore localization of BUB1 and BUBR1. BUB3 participates in the central spindle checkpoint pathway that operates during early embryogenesis. Furthermore BUB3 has a part in regulating the establishment of correct kinetochore-microtubule attachments.

FBL is a significant small nucleolar protein in eukaryotes, which has an essential role in pre-rRNA processing during ribosomal biogenesis. Fibrillarin is a component of several ribonucleoproteins including a nucleolar small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (SnRNP) and one of the two classes of small nucleolar ribonucleoproteins (snoRNPs). Fibrillarin contains an N-terminal repetitive domain which is rich in glycine and arginine residues, like fibrillarins in other species. Fibrillarin’s central region is similar to an RNA-binding domain and contains an RNP consensus sequence. FBL is linked to the U3, U8, and U13 small nuclear RNAs and is positioned in the dense fibrillar component (DFC) of the nucleolus. Antisera from roughly 8% of humans with the autoimmune disease scleroderma recognize fibrillarin.

Transforming growth factor betas (TGF Betas) mediate many cell-cell interactions that occur during embryonic development. Three TGF Betas have been identified in mammals. TGF Beta 1, TGF Beta 2 and TGF Beta 3 are each synthesized as precursor proteins that are very similar in that each is cleaved to yield a 112 amino acid polypeptide that remains associated with the latent portion of the molecule.

TGFB-Induced Factor Homeobox 2-Like Y-Linked (TGIF2LY) is a part of the TALE/TGIF homeobox family of transcription factors. TGIF2LY is located in the male specific region of chromosome Y, in a block of sequence which is the outcome of a large X-to-Y transposition. TGIF2LY act as a regulator of TGIF2LX due to the fact that the C-terminus of TGIF2LY is different from that of its chromosome X homolog (TGIF2LX). TGIF2LY has also a transcription role in testis.

JUN N-terminal Kinase 2is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. This kinase targets specific transcription factors, and thus mediates immediate-early gene expression in response to various cell stimuli. It is most closely related to MAPK8, both of which are involved in UV radiation induced apoptosis, thought to be related to the cytochrome c-mediated cell death pathway. This gene and MAPK8 are also known as c-Jun N-terminal kinases. This kinase blocks the ubiquitination of tumor suppressor p53, and thus it increases the stability of p53 in nonstressed cells. Studies of this gene's mouse counterpart suggest a key role in T-cell differentiation. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

Cytokeratin 16, also known as KRT16, is a member of the keratin gene family. KRT16 which acts as a regulator of innate immunity in response to skin barrier breach is required for some inflammatory checkpoint for the skin barrier maintenance. KRT16 is coexpressed with keratin 14 in a few epithelial tissues as esophagus, tongue, and hair follicles.

Protein Kinase CAMP-Dependent Catalytic Beta (PRKACB) belongs to the Ser/Thr protein kinase family and is a catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. cAMP is a signaling molecule imperative for various cellular functions. cAMP activates the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which transduces the signal by way of phosphorylation of different target proteins. The inactive kinase holoenzyme is a tetramer composed of 2 regulatory and 2 catalytic subunits. cAMP triggers the dissociation of the inactive holoenzyme into a dimer of regulatory subunits bound to 4 cAMP and 2 free monomeric catalytic subunits. PRKACB mediates cAMP-dependent signaling initiated by receptor binding to GPCRs. PKA activation regulates various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, the cell cycle, differentiation and regulation of microtubule dynamics, chromatin condensation and decondensation, nuclear envelope disassembly and reassembly, in addition to regulation of intracellular transport mechanisms and ion flux. PRKACB regulates the abundance of compartmentalized pools of its regulatory subunits via phosphorylation of PJA2 which binds and ubiquitinates these subunits, leading to their consequent proteolysis.

Thioredoxins are small disulphide-containing redox proteins (within the conserved Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys active site) that have been found in all the kingdoms of living organisms. Thioredoxin contains a single disulfide active site and serves as a general protein disulphide oxidoreductase. Thioredoxins are involved in the first unique step in DNA synthesis. It interacts with a broad range of proteins by a redox mechanism based on reversible oxidation of two cysteine thiol groups to a disulphide, accompanied by the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The net result is the covalent interconversion of a disulphide and a dithiol. It has been suggested that thioredoxin may catalyze the formation of correct disulfides during protein folding because of its ability to act as an efficient oxidoreductant. Trx also provides control over a number of transcription factors affecting cell proliferation and death through a mechanism referred to as redox regulation.

UBL5 is believed to be a reversible modulator of protein function unlike ubiquitin which is a protein degrader. UBL5 influences a nuclear phase obligatory for increasing a reaction against the risk of mitochondrial protein misfolding.

VAMP3 is present in recycling endosomes and endosome-derived vesicles. VAMP3 has been implicated in recycling of transferrin receptors to the plasma membrane, secretion of alpha-granules in platelets, recycling of T-cell receptors to the immunological synapses, and membrane trafficking during cell migration. VAMP-3 is present in human platelets and necessary for granule secretion. Synaptobrevins are the main components of a protein complex involved in the docking and/or fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. VAMP3 high homology to other VAMPs in its broad tissue distribution and subcellular localization is shown to be the human equivalent of the rodent cellubrevin. In platelets the protein resides on a compartment that is not mobilized to the plasma membrane on calcium or thrombin stimulation.

VAMP5 is part of the vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)/synaptobrevin family and the SNARE superfamily. VAMP5 is involved is vesicle trafficking events that are associated with myogenesis.

Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 7 (VAMP7) is a member of the synaptobrevin family. VAMP7 is a transmembrane protein, which is a member of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) family. VAMP7 is involved in the targeting and/or fusion of transport vesicles to their target membrane during transport of proteins from the early endosome to the lysosome. VAMP7 localizes to late endosomes and lysosomes and is involved in the fusion of transport vesicles to their target membranes. VAMP7 is essential for heterotypic fusion of late endosomes with lysosomes and homotypic lysosomal fusion. It is also necessary for calcium regulated lysosomal exocytosis. In addition, VAMP7 is involved in the export of chylomicrons from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cis Golgi. Furthermore, VAMP7 is needed for exocytosis of mediators during eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation, and target cell killing by natural killer cells.

Cellular nucleic acid-binding protein (CNBP) is a nucleic-acid binding protein with seven zinc-finger domains, which has a preference for binding single stranded DNA and RNA. CNBP serves in cap-independent translation of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA, and also in sterol-mediated transcriptional regulation. The expansion of A CCTG in CNBP protein’s first intron results in myotonic dystrophy type 2.

COP9 signalosome complex subunit 8 isoform 1 (COPS8) is one of the 8 subunits of COP9 signalosome, which is a much conserved protein complex that functions as an imperative regulator in multiple signaling pathways. The structure and function of COP9 signalosome is analogous to that of the 19S regulatory particle of 26S proteasome. COP9 signalosome interacts with SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligases and acts as a positive regulator of E3 ubiquitin ligases.

TNFSF15 is a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This protein is abundantly expressed in endothelial cells, but is not expressed in either B or T cells. The expression of TNFSF15 is inducible by TNF and IL-1 alpha. This cytokine is a ligand for receptor TNFRSF25 and decoy receptor TNFRSF21/DR6. It can activate NF-kappaB and MAP kinases, and acts as an autocrine factor to induce apoptosis in endothelial cells. TNFSF15 is also found to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation, and thus may function as an angiogenesis inhibitor. An additional isoform encoded by an alternatively spliced transcript variant has been reported but the sequence of this transcript has not been determined.

MAX protein is part of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLHZ) family of transcription factors. MAX forms homodimers and heterodimers with Mad, Mxi1 and Myc. Myc is an oncoprotein implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The homodimers and heterodimers compete for a common DNA target site (the E box) and rearrangement among these dimer forms offers a complex system of transcriptional regulation. In contrast to Myc, which is exceedingly regulated throughout progression during the cell cycle, Max is very stable and is much more abundant than Myc.

HAND1 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors. HAND1 is one of two HAND proteins, two closely related family members that are irregularly expressed in the emerging ventricular chambers and have a key part in cardiac morphogenesis. Operating in a complementary manner, they work in the development of the right ventricle and aortic arch arteries, implicating them as mediators of congenital heart disease. Furthermore, HAND1 is obligatory for early trophoblast differentiation.

XRCC2 belongs to the RecA/Rad51-related protein family which takes part in homologous recombination to repair DNA damage and preserve chromosome stability. XRCC2 gene participates in the mending of DNA double-strand disruptions by homologous recombination. Additionally, XRCC2 functionally complements Chinese hamster irs1, a repair-deficient mutant which displays hypersensitivity to diverse DNA-damaging agents.

Ring Finger Protein 114 (RNF114) is expressed in various tissues, including skin, CD4 lymphocytes and dendritic cells. RNF114, which contains 1 RING-type zinc finger, takes part in spermatogenesis.

Prolactin is a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized primarily by the pituitary gland but also a variety of other cell types including the placenta, brain and uterus. Its primary function is to promote and maintain lactation but has also been shown to have a role in breast cancer development, regulation of reproductive function and immunoregulation.

Interleukin 2 receptor is a protein that involves immune responses that are mediated through T cells. The IL2 receptor exists in three ways in which it can bind to IL2. CD25 is the lowest affinity (a monomer of the alpha subunit), therefore, it is not part of the signal transduction process. The highest affinity has three heterotrimer subunits (alpha/beta/gamma), the intermediate affinity is found to have gamma/beta subunit heterodimer. Both forms are part of the receptor mediated endocytosis and mitogenic signals transduction from IL2.

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/macrophage migration, 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 mitogenesis and 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 is linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Once a cluster of cancer cells reaches a diameter of about 1–2 mm, it must develop a blood supply in order to grow larger. Given that diffusion is no longer adequate to supply the cancerous cells with oxygen and nutrients and to remove wastes. Therefore, these cells secrete substances that promote the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), which are vital for the growth and persistence of solid tumors and their metastases.
The production of several angiogenic factors (FGF-a, FGF-b, VEGF and VPF) is upregulated by tumors in order to stimulate angiogenesis. However, numerous malignant tumors also generate inhibitors of angiogenesis which include angiostatin and thrombospondin. The angiogenic phenotype is basically the end result of a net balance between the positive and negative regulators of neovascularization mentioned above. Endostatin’s role is to inhibit endothelial proliferation, therefore it is an effective angiogenesis inhibitor.