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The enzyme Arylsulfatase A, also known as cerebroside-sulfatase, is responsible to break down sulfatides. The main molecule that Arylsulfatase A breaks down is cerebroside 3-sulfate into cerebroside and sulfate. The enzyme is encoded by the ARSA gene in humans. Phosphate can form a covalent bond with the Arylsulfatase A’s active site 3-oxoalanine, thus, inhibits the protein.

Fibroblast growth factor 16 (FGF16) is a member of the large FGF family, whose members are heparin-binding growth factors with a core 120 amino acid (a.a.) FGF domain which allows for a common tertiary structure. Human FGF16 cDNA is a 207 aa precursor protein with one N-linked glycosylation site. FGF16 though lacking a typical signal peptide, is efficiently produced by mechanisms other than the classical protein secretion pathway. FGF16 is expressed in cardiac cells and is required for proper heart development. FGF16 gene mutation was also observed in individuals with metacarpal 4-5 fusion. FGF16 has an imperative role in the regulation of embryonic development, cell proliferation and cell differentiation, and is required for normal cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart development.

The homeobox protein family of transcription factors has many members that take part in developmental processes such as HHEX. HHEX is known to interact with Promyelocytic leukemia protein and expression in specific hematopoietic lines indicates that this protein is involved in hematopoietic differentiation.

Oncostatin M is a member of a cytokine family that includes leukemia-inhibitory factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin 6. This gene encodes a growth regulator which inhibits the proliferation of a number of tumor cell lines. It regulates cytokine production, including IL-6, G-CSF and GM-CSF from endothelial cells.

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.

Interleukin-1b is produced by activated macrophages, IL-1B stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing il-2 release, b-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL1B proteins are involved in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and are reported to stimulate the release of prostaglandin and collagenase from synovial cells.

The FGFs are a family of more than 20 small (~17–26 kDa) secreted peptides. The initial characterization of these proteins focused on their ability to stimulate fibroblast proliferation. This mitogenic activity was mediated through FGF receptors (FGFRs) 1, 2, or 3. A fourth closely related tyrosine kinase receptor (FGFR4) was able to bind the FGFs but did not lead to a mitogenic response.
FGFs modulate cellular activity via at least 5 distinct subfamilies of high-affinity FGF receptors (FGFRs): FGFR-1, -2, -3, and -4, all with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and, except for FGFR-4, multiple splice isoforms, and FGFR-5, which lacks an intracellular kinase domain. There is growing evidence that FGFRs can be important for regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis. The overexpression of a dominant negative form of FGFR-1 in ? cells leads to diabetes in mice, which thus implies that proper FGF signaling is required for normal ? cell function and glycemia maintenance. FGFR-2 appears to be a key molecule during pancreatic development. Moreover, FGFR-4 has been implicated in cholesterol metabolism and bile acid synthesis.
FGF-21 is preferentially expressed in liver, but an exact knowledge of FGF-21 bioactivity and its mode of action have been lacking to date. FGF-21 is a potent activator of glucose uptake on adipocytes, protects animals from diet-induced obesity when overexpressed in transgenic mice, and lowers blood glucose and triglyceride levels when therapeutically administered to diabetic rodents.

CNTF is a polypeptide hormone whose actions appear to be restricted to the nervous system where it promotes neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth in certain neuronal populations. The protein is a potent survival factor for neurons and oligodendrocytes and may be relevant in reducing tissue destruction during inflammatory attacks. A mutation in this gene, which results in aberrant splicing, leads to ciliary neurotrophic factor deficiency, but this phenotype is not causally related to neurologic disease. In addition to the predominant monocistronic transcript originating from this locus, the gene is also co-transcribed with the upstream ZFP91 gene. Co-transcription from the two loci results in a transcript that contains a complete coding region for the zinc finger protein but lacks a complete coding region for ciliary neurotrophic factor.
CNTF is a survival factor for various neuronal cell types. Seems to prevent the degeneration of motor axons after axotomy.

Cardiotrophin 1 (CT-1) is a 201 amino acid member of the interleukin-6 superfamily. It was identified by its ability to induce hypertrophic response in cardiac myocytes. CT-1 mRNA levels were found both in cardiac myocytes and in cardiac nonmyocytes. CT 1 was also detected in abundance in normal adult human lung and was expressed in both fetal and adult airway smooth muscle cells. CT 1 activates gp130 dependent signaling and stimulates the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway to transduce hypertrophic and cytoprotective signals in cardiac myocytes.
CT 1 has also a neurotrophic function. CTF1 deficiency causes increased motoneuron cell death in spinal cord and brainstem nuclei of mice during a period between embryonic day 14 and the first postnatal week. Moreover, CT-1 is a hepatocyte survival factor that efficiently reduces hepatocellular damage in animal models of acute liver injury. Cardiotrophin 1 expression is augmented after hypoxic stimulation and it can protect cardiac cells when added either prior to simulated ischaemia or at the time of reoxygenation following simulated ischaemia. Cardiotrophin 1 can induce expression of the protective heat shock proteins (hsps) in cardiac cells.
Cardiotrophin-1 increased ventricular expression of ANP, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and angiotensinogen mRNA.
Cardiophin 1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with heart failure, patients with dilatative cardiomyopathy, moderate/severe mitral regurgitation, stable and unstable angina and after acute myocardial infarction.

IRF1, IFN regulatory factor 1, is a member of the IFN regulatory transcription factor (IRF) family which regulates gene expression critical to immune response, hematopoiesis and proliferation. IRF-1 is a transcriptional activator for IFN-A, IFN-B, and IFN-G stimulated genes. IRF1 is also a tumor suppressor transcription factor inducing apoptosis of tumorigenic cell lines.

PDGF-BB is a member of the platelet-derived growth factor family. The four members of this family are mitogenic factors for cells of mesenchymal origin and are characterized by a motif of eight cysteines. This gene product can exist either as a homodimer (PDGF-BB) or as a heterodimer with the platelet-derived growth factor alpha polypeptide (PDGF-AB), where the dimers are connected by disulfide bonds. Mutations in this gene are associated with meningioma. Reciprocal translocations between chromosomes 22 and 7, at sites where this gene and that for COL1A1 are located, are associated with a particular type of skin tumor called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans resulting from unregulated expression of growth factor. Two splice variants have been identified for this gene.

ETS homologous factor (EHF) is a part of the ESE subfamily of Ets transcription factors. Ets factors are an important kind of transcriptional regulators which take part in hema-topoiesis, angiogenesis, organogenesis, oncogenesis and specification of neuronal connectivity. EHF is expressed solely in a subset of epithelial cells, with highest expression noticed in glandular epithelium of the prostate, pancreas, salivary gland and trachea. EHF transactivates the c-Met promoter via 3 high affinity binding sites, which support the notion that EHF contribute to branching morphogenesis.

Ectodysplasin A Receptor, also known as EDAR belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. EDAR is a receptor for the soluble ligand ectodysplasin A, and is capable of activating the nuclear factor-kappaB, JNK, as well as caspase-independent cell death pathways. EDAR is necessary for the development of hair, teeth, and other ectodermal derivatives. Furthermore, mutations in EDAR resulted in autosomal dominant and recessive forms of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.

EDF1 controls endothelial cell differentiation. EDF1 has a role as a bridging protein that interconnects regulatory proteins and the basal transcriptional machinery, thus modulating the transcription of genes that take part in endothelial differentiation. EDF1 binds calmodulin through its IQ domain and controls nitric oxide synthase activity via calmodulin sequestration in the cytoplasm. EDF1 is localized in adult liver, heart, adipose tissues, intestine and pancreas.

Oncostatin M is a member of a cytokine family that includes leukemia-inhibitory factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin 6. This gene encodes a growth regulator which inhibits the proliferation of a number of tumor cell lines. It regulates cytokine production, including IL-6, G-CSF and GM-CSF from endothelial cells.

TRAF Family Member-Associated NFKB Activator (TANK) is located in the cytoplasm and binds Either TRAF1, TRAF2 or TRAF3. TANK is an inhibitor of TRAF function which regulates TRAF protein activity via sequestering TRAFs in a dormant position in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of TANK, inhibits TRAF2-mediated NF-Kappa-B activation signaled by CD40 and both TNF receptors and also inhibits LMP1-mediated NFkappa-B activation by blocking the connection of TRAF2 with LMP1.

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.

Excess adiposity is the most important risk in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipose tissue produces several proteins (adipocytokines) such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-?, and IL-6, that modulate insulin sensitivity and appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms by which fat tissue induces insulin resistance and the role of adipocytokines in the pathogenesis of T2DM have not been well established.
Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and was originally isolated as a secreted factor that synergizes with IL-7 and stem cell factors to promote the growth of B cell precursors. Visfatin homologs have been identified in carp, invertebrate mollusks, and bacteria, as well as in vertebrates, including humans and the mouse. It has been postulated to play a role in innate immunity.
Visfatin exerts insulin-mimetic effects that are dose-dependent and quantitatively similar to those of insulin in stimulating muscle and adipocyte glucose transport, and in inhibiting hepatocyte glucose production. Intravenous injection of recombinant visfatin in mice decreased plasma glucose in a dose-dependent fashion. In keeping with its insulin-mimetic effects, visfatin was as effective as insulin in reducing hyperglycemia in insulin-deficient diabetic mice. Visfatin was also found to be bound to and activate insulin receptor, causing receptor phosphorylation and the activation of downstream signaling molecules. However, visfatin and insulin did not compete for binding to the insulin receptor, indicating that the two proteins were recognized by different regions of the receptor. Thus, visfatin might play a role in glucose homeostasis and dysregulation in biosynthesis or signal transduction, and might contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes.

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.

NGF-beta has nerve growth stimulating activity and the complex is involved in the regulation of growth and the differentiation of sympathetic and certain sensory neurons. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 5 (HSAN5), and dysregulation of this gene's expression is associated with allergic rhinitis.

NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 alpha subcomplex assembly factor 4 (NDUFAF4) is involved in the compilation of mitochondrial NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex (complex I). In addition, NDUFAF4 is involved in cell proliferation and survival of hormone-dependent tumor cells. NDUFAF4 may also be a regulator of breast tumor cell invasion. NDUFAF4 gene mutations cause the mitochondrial complex I deficiency.

Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) comprise a family of at least eighteen structurally realted proteins that are involved in a multitude of physiological and pathological cellular processes, including cell growth, differentation, angiogenesis, wound healing and tumorgenesis. The biological activities of the FGFs are mediated by a family if type I transmembrane tyrosine kinases which undergo dimerization and autophosphorylation after ligand binding. Four distinct genes encoding closely related FGF receptors, FGFR-1to -4 are known. Multiple forms of FGFR-1 to -3 are generated by alternative splicing of the mRNAs. A frequent splicing event involving FGFR-1 and -2 results in receptors containing all three Ig domains, referred to as the alpha isoform, or only IgII and IgIII, referred to as the ? isoform. Only the alpha isoform has been identified for FGFR-3 and FGFR-4. Additional splicing events for FGFR-1 to -3, involving the C-terminal half of the IgIII domain encoded by two mutually exclusive alternative exons, generate FGF receptors with alternative IgIII domains (IIIb and IIIc). A IIIa isoform which is a secreted FGF binding protein containing only the N-terminal half of the IgIII domain plus some intron sequences has also been reported for FGFR-1. Mutations in FGFR-1 to -3 have been found in patients with birth defects involving craniosynostosis.

MANF is a 20kDa protein which belongs to the ARMET family. MANF was originally known as an arginine-rich region protein which was extremely mutated in a large number of tumors. MANF Expression is induced during ER stress, signifying that MANF takes part in protein quality control during ER stress.