Search results

Nedd4 Family Interacting Protein 1 (NDFIP1) is a part of a small group of evolutionarily conserved proteins having 3 ransmembrane domains. NDFIP1 is a possible target for ubiquitination by the Nedd4 family of proteins. NDFIP, which is a member of a family of integral Golgi membrane proteins, also modulates EGFR signaling through multiple pathways.

PMF1-BGLAP is a locus which represents naturally occurring read-through transcription between the neighboring polyamine-modulated factor 1 (PMF1) and bone gamma-carboxyglutamate Gla protein (BGLAP) genes on chromosome 1. There are multiple transcript variants encoding isoforms as a results of alternative splicing which share sequence identity with the upstream gene product, but they have a different C-termini because of frameshifts as opposed to the downstream gene coding sequence.

GSTT1 belongs to a superfamily of proteins which catalyze the conjugation of reduced glutathione to a variety of electrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. GSTT1 is one of the GSTs’ four main classes: alpha, mu, pi and theta (which includes GSTT1 and GSTT2). GSTT1 is involved in activation and detoxification reactions and catalyzes the conjugation of industrial chemicals, such as epoxybutane, ethylene oxides, halomethane with glutathione. GSTT1 is found in erythrocytes, at low levels in the liver as well as in Clara and ciliated cells at the alveolar/bronchiolar junction in the lung.
The GSTT1 gene is deficient in 38% of the population. The GSTTI enzyme deficiency might influence the individual risk for development of acquired aplastic anemia and acute myeloid leukemia. The presence or absence of the GSTT1 gene is concurrent with GSST1+ (the conjugator) and GSTT1- (the non-conjugator) phenotypes correspondingly. The GSTT1+ phenotype is able to catalyze the glutathione conjugation of dichloromethane. GSTT1-null genotypes are seen as having a higher risk of developing leukoplakia. Germline genetic polymorphism in GSTT1 is linked to breast cancer.

Glia Maturation Factor-Beta (GMF-Beta) is a 17 kDa protein nerve gorwth factor identified as a growth and differentiation factor in the vertebrate brain.

Glia Maturation Factor-Beta stimulates differentiation of normal neurons as well as glial cells. GMFB inhibits the proliferation of the N-18 neuroblastoma line and the C6 glioma line while promoting their phenotypic expression.
GMF-beta inhances the phenotypic expression of glia & neurons thus inhibits the proliferation of their respective tumors when added to cell culture. Although astrocytes produce GMF-b and stores it inside the cells, they don’t secrete the GMF-B into the cultured medium. Cell- surface GMFb acts on the target cells at close range when cells are in direct contact. GMF-Beta is produced by thymic epithelial cells and plays an important role in T cell development in favor of CD4+ T cells.
GMF-Beta is a brain-specific protein which belongs to the actin-binding proteins (ADF) family. GMF-beta appears to play a role in the differentiation, maintenance, and regeneration of the nervous system. It also supports the progression of certain auto-immune diseases, possibly through its ability to induce the production and secretion of various pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Beta-casein precursor (CSN2) is a member of the beta-casein family. CSN2 has an imperative role in determination of the surface properties of the casein micelles. CSN2 is specific to mammary glands and is secreted in milk.

Decorin (DCN) is a small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan which is closely related in structure to biglycan protein. Decorin is a secreted protein which binds to collagen and fibronectin in extracellular matrix. Decorin appears in different glycoforms, substituted with chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate consistent with the original tissue. DCN contains one attached glycosaminoglycan chain. Decorin influences the rate of fibril formation. Decorin is capable of suppressing the growth of various tumor cell lines. DCN gene defects cause corneal dystrophy. The DCN gene is a candidate gene for Marfan syndrome.

Adenosine deaminase CECR1 isoform (CECR1) belongs to a family of adenosine deaminase-related growth factors. Adenosine deaminase is a key enzyme of purine nucleotide metabolism. CECR1 is a secreted protein, which is expressed in various tissues, with the highest expression in the lymphoblasts, heart, lung, and the placenta.

IgG1 Fcplays a role in antigen binding activity and immunoglobulin receptor binding activity. IgG1 Fc takes part in the activation of immune & defensive response. IgG1 Fc takes part in the upstream of immunoglobulin mediated immune response, positive regulation of hypersensitivity & regulation of phagocytosis.

ZNF346 is a nucleolar, zinc finger protein which specially binds to double-stranded RNA or RNA/DNA fusions, instead of DNA alone. Zinc finger domains vital for dsRNA binding and essential for its nucleolar localization. ZNF346 takes part in cell growth and survival.

CTSC has an important role in the activation of granule serine proteases in inflammatory cells.CTSC catalyses excision of dipeptides from the N-terminus of protein and peptide substrates. Once activated by CTSC, proteases are capable of degrading extracellular matrix components, which can result in tissue damage and chronic inflammation. CTSCcomprises of 4 subunits, each composed of the N-terminal proregion fragment, heavy chain and light chains. Defects in the CTSC protein have been demonstratedto result in Papillon-Lefevre disease which is an autosomal recessive disorder.

Probable tRNA (His) guanylyltransferase (THG1L) is a member of the tRNA (His) gyanylytransferase family. THG1L which is localized to the cytoplasm also found adjacent to the nuclear membrane and expressed in various tissues, including liver and lung. THG1L is expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner and may be involved in cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. THG1L adds a GMP to the 5'-end of tRNA(His) after transcription and RNase P cleavage. This step is vital for accurate recognition of the tRNA and for the fidelity of protein synthesis. Upon DNA damage, THG1L is phosphorylated, presumably by ATM or ATR.

BTB/POZ domain-containing protein KCTD5 (KCTD5), is a 234 amino acid protein which localizes mainly in the cytoplasm however translocates to the nucleus on interaction with REP proteins. The expression of KCTD5 is up regulated post-transcriptionally in peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated via the T-cell receptor. KCTD5 interacts particularly with cullin3, attaches ubiquitinated proteins, and created oligomers through its BTB domain.

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/ macrophagemigration, 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 mitogenesisand 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 are linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF R) subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases comprises four members: EGF R (also known as HER1, ErbB1 or ErbB), ErbB2 (Neu, HER-2), ErbB3 (HER-3), and ErbB4 (HER-4). All family members are type I transmembrane glycoprotein that has an extracellular domain which contains two cysteine-rich domains separated by a spacer region that is involved in ligand-binding, and a cytoplasmic domain which has a membrane-proximal tyrosine kinase domain and a C-terminal tail with multiple tyrosine autophosphorylation sites. The human EGF R gene encodes a 1210 amino acid (aa) residue precursor with a 24 aa putative signal peptide, a 621 aa extracellular domain, a 23 aa transmembrane domain, and a 542 aa cytoplasmic domain. EGF R has been shown to bind a subset of the EGF family ligands, including EGF, amphiregulin, TGF-a , betacellulin, epiregulin, heparin-binding EGF and neuregulin-2 in the absence of a co-receptor. Ligand binding induces EGF R homodimerization as well as heterdimerization with ErbB2, resulting in kinase activation, tyrosine phosphorylation and cell signaling. EGF R can also be recruited to form heterodimers with the ligand-activated ErbB3 or ErbB4. EGF R signaling has been shown to regulate multiple biological functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, motility and apoptosis. In addition, EGF R signaling has also been shown to play a role in carcinogenesis.

FGF-23 is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities and are involved in a variety of biological processes including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF-23 inhibits renal tubular phosphate transport. The FGF-23 gene was identified by its mutations associated with autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR), an inherited phosphate wasting disorder. Abnormally high level expression of FGF-23 was found in oncogenic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia (OHO), a phenotypically similar disease caused by abnormal phosphate metabolism. FGF-23 mutations have also been shown to cause familial tumoral calcinosis with hyperphosphatemia.

Cytokeratin 14 is a member of the keratin family, the most diverse group of intermediate filaments. Cytokeratin 14 is a type I keratin, is usually found as a heterotetramer with two keratin 5 molecules, a type II keratin. Together they form the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells. Mutations in the genes for these keratins are associated with epidermolysis bullosa simplex. At least one pseudogene has been identified at 17p12-p11.

Epidermal growth factor has a profound effect on the differentiation of specific cells in vivo and is a potent mitogenic factor for a variety of cultured cells of both ectodermal and mesodermal origin. The EGF precursor is believed to exist as a membrane-bound molecule which is proteolytically cleaved to generate the 53-amino acid peptide hormone that stimulates cells to divide.
EGF stimulates the growth of various epidermal and epithelial tissues in vivo and in vitro and of some fibroblasts in cell culture.

Chromogranin-A Isoform 1 Preproprotein or CHGA is part of the neuroendocrine secretory proteins of the chromogranin/secretogranin family. CHGA is a precursor of numerus enzymes such as pancreastatin, catestatin, vasostatin-1,vasostatin-2, and parastatin. The protein acts as a negative regulator the neuroendocrine activity of autocrine or nearby cells (paracrine). CHGA causes further production of secretory granules that contains insulin in pancreatic islet beta cells.

NEFL or Neurofilament light polypeptide is a protein that is encoded through the NEFL gene. NEFL is correlated to a disease called Charcot–Marie–Tooth. The protein’s light subunit is determined by immunoassays in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, if present, it can indicate on axonal damage in neurological diseases. By doing so, NEFL can act as a marker for Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

Epidermal growth factor has a profound effect on the differentiation of specific cells in vivo and is a potent mitogenic factor for a variety of cultured cells of both ectodermal and mesodermal origin. The EGF precursor is believed to exist as a membrane-bound molecule which is proteolytically cleaved to generate the 53-amino acid peptide hormone that stimulates cells to divide.
EGF stimulates the growth of various epidermal and epithelial tissues in vivo and in vitro and of some fibroblasts in cell culture.

CUB Domain Containing Protein 1, also known as CDCP1 is a transmembrane protein which contains three extracellular CUB domains. CDCP1 is implicated in cell adhesion and cell matrix association. In addition, CDCP1 takes part in the regulation of anchorage versus migration or proliferation versus differentiation through its phosphorylation. CDCP1 is also a novel marker for leukemia diagnosis as well as for immature hematopoietic stem cell subsets. Furthermore, the extracellular region of human CDCP1 shares amino acid identity sequence with the mouse CDCP1.

SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor-1) is small cytokine belonging to the chemokine family that is officially designated Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12). It is produced in two forms, SDF-1?/CXCL12a and SDF-1?/CXCL12b, by alternate splicing of the same gene. Chemokines are characterized by the presence of four conserved cysteines, which form two disulfide bonds. The CXCL12 proteins belong to the group of CXC chemokines, whose initial pair of cysteines are separated by one intervening amino acid. CXCL12 is strongly chemotactic for lymphocytes and has been implicated as an important cell co-ordinator during development. During embryogenesis it directs the migration of hematopoietic cells from foetal liver to bone marrow. Mice which were knocked-out for CXCL12 gene were lethal before the birth or within just 1 hour of life. As another role, CXCL12a alters also the electrophysiology of neurons. CXCL12 was shown to be expressend in many tissues in mice (including brain, thymus, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and bone marrow).
The receptor for this chemokine is CXCR4, which was previously called fusin. This CXCL12-CXCR4 interaction used to be considered exclusive (unlike for other chemokines and their receptors), but recently it was suggested that CXCL12 is also bound by CXCR7 receptor.
The gene for CXCL12 is located on human chromosome 10. In human and mouse both CXCL12 and CXCR4 show high identity of sequence: 99% and 90%, respectively.