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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.

TGFBR1 is a single-pass type 1 membrane protein which is a part of the TGFB receptor subfamily and the protein kinase superfamily. TGFBR1 is a secreted protein that performs many cellular functions such as the control of cell growth, cell differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. TGFBR1 also controls the immune system and shows different activities on various types of cell, or cells at different developmental stages.

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.

Cytohesin 3 (CYTH3) belongs to the PSCD family, whose members have identical structural organization which consists of an N-terminal coiled-coil motif, a central Sec7 domain, and a C-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, and seem to mediate the regulation of protein sorting and membrane trafficking. CYTH3 is involved in the regulation of Golgi structure and function, and it might have a physiological role in regulating ADP-ribosylation factor protein 6 (ARF) functions, in addition to acting on ARF1.

Phosphopantothenate-cysteine ligase (PPCS) catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) from pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), which is a vital universal pathway in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. PPCS, being one of the last enzymes in this pathway, converts phosphopantothenate to phosphopantothenoylcysteine.

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 several epidermal and epithelial tissues in vivo and in vitro and of some fibroblasts in cell culture.

Methionine sulfoxide reductase B3 (MSRB3) is a member of the methionine sulfoxide reductases (MSR) family proteins. MSRB3 catalyzes the reduction of methionine sulfoxide to methionine. The MSRB3 enzyme acts as a monomer and requires zinc as a cofactor. MSRs are thought to defend against reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative damage in various organs, including the most environmentally exposed organ, the human skin. MSRB3 has a vital role in cold tolerance by eliminating MetO and ROS which accumulate at the ER during cold acclimation.

EGF Domain-Specific O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine Transferase (EOGT) takes part in the regulation of Notch receptor. EOGT catalyzes the transfer of a single N-acetylglucosamine from UDP-GlcNAc to a serine/ threonine residue in extracellular proteins resulting in their modification with a beta-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). EOGT mainly glycosylates the Thr residue positioned between the fifth and sixth conserved cysteines of folded EGF-like domains.

PDXP is the active form of vitamin B6 that functions as a coenzyme in preserving biochemical homeostasis. The desired degradation route from PLP to 4-pyridoxic acid involves the dephosphorylation of PLP by PDXP. PDXP shows activity to pyridoxal 5''-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxine 5''-phosphate (PMP) and Pyridoxine 5''-phosphate (PNP), with a highest activity with PLP followed by PNP.

Active IL-12 is a p70 disulphide-linked dimer composed of p35 and p40 subunits. The protein is a pleiotropic cytokine produced primarily by antigen presenting cells and has multiple effects on T lymphocytes and natural killer cells in terms of stimulating cytotoxicity, proliferation, production of other cytokines and Th1 subset differentiation.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor belongs to the CCN family of proteins. The CCN family presently consists of six members in human also known as: Cyr61 (Cystein rich 61), CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor), Nov (Nephroblastoma Overexpressed gene), WISP-1, 2 and 3 (Wnt-1 Induced Secreted Proteins). The CCN genes encode secreted proteins associated with the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cell membrane. CCN proteins are matricellular proteins which are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including: proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. They are expressed in derivatives of the three embryonic sheets and are implicated in the development of kidney, nervous system, muscle, bone marrow, cartilage and bone. During adulthood, they are implicated in wound healing, bone fracture repair, and pathologies such as: fibrosis, vascular ailments and tumorigenesis.
Full length secreted CCN proteins can show an antiproliferative activity, whereas truncated isoforms are likely to stimulate proliferation and behave as oncogenes. The full length protein consists of four modulesModule I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs).
Module II includes a stretch of 70amino acid residues – which shares sequence identity with the Von Willebrand Factor Type C repeat (VWC).
Module III contains sequences sharing identity with the Thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) (WSXCSXXCG), which is thought to be implicated in the binding of sulfated glycoconjugates and to be important for cell adhesion. Module IV, also designated CT, is encoded by exon5. It is the leasts conserved one of the four domains at the level of nucleotide sequence, but it appears to be critical for several of the biological functions attributed to the CCN proteins. Module IV resembles the CT domain of several extracellular protein including, Von Willebrand's factor and mucins. Sequence similarities to heparin-binding motifs are also found within this domain.
Proteolysis of the secreted full-length CCN proteins that has been reported in the case of CCN2 and CCN3 might result in the production of CCN-derived peptides with high affinity for ligands that full-length CNN proteins bind only poorly. Amino-truncated CCN2 isoforms were biologically active whereas no specific biological activity has been attributed to the truncated CCN3. Although the molecular processes underlying the production of these secreted isoforms is presently unknown, it is important to note that proteolysis occur at the same amino acid residues in both CCN2 and CCN3. An elevated expression of CCN2 has also been detected by Northern blotting in human invasive mammary ductal carcinomas, dermatofibromas, pyogenic granuloma, endothelial cells of angiolipomas and angioleiomyomas, and in pancreatic tumors. A study performed with chondrosarcomas representative of various histological grades established that CCN2 expression was closely correlated with increasing levels of malignancy. In agreement with CCN2 playing a role in brain tumor angiogenesis, immunocytochemistry studies indicated that both glioblastoma tumor cells and proliferating endothelial cells stained positive for CCN2. In astrocytomas, CCN2 expression was particularly elevated in high grade tumors, with a marked effect of CCN2 on cell proliferation. Downregulation of CCN2 expression in these cells was associated with a growth arrest at the G1/S transition while over-expression of CCN2 induced a two-fold increase of the number of cells in the G1 phase. Gene profiling analysis allowed to identify a set of about 50 genes whose expression might account for the proliferative activity of CCN2 in these cells. CCN2 was seen in a higher proportion of mononuclear cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acyl-CoA Thioesterase 7 (ACOT7) belongs to the acyl coenzyme family. ACOT7 hydrolyzes the CoA thioester of palmitoyl-CoA and other long-chain fatty acids. Decreased expression of the ACOT7 protein may be linked to mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

DDX39A which is a part of the DEAD box protein family is characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp. This pattern is implicated in a various cellular processes involving alteration of RNA secondary structure, nuclear and mitochondrial splicing, and ribosome and spliceosome assembly. Several members of the DEAD box protein family are taking part in embryogenesis, spermatogenesis, and cellular growth and division.

Beta-1,3-glucuronyltransferase 3 (B3GAT3) is involved in forming the linkage tetrasaccharide present in heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. B3GAT3 has a part in the biosynthesis of l2/HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope on glycoproteins. B3GAT3 shows strict specificity for Gal-beta-1,3-Gal-beta-1,4-Xyl, exhibiting negligible incorporation into other galactoside substrates including Galbeta1-3Gal beta1-O-benzyl, Galbeta1-4GlcNAc and Galbeta1-4Glc.

PDIA3 is an enzyme that belongs to the endoplasmic reticulum and interacts with lectin chaperones calreticulin and calnexin to modulate folding of newly synthesized glycoproteins. PDIA3 has protein disulfide isomerase activity. Complexes of lectins and PDIA3 mediate protein folding by promoting formation of disulfide bonds in their glycoprotein substrates. PDIA3 is expressed in the lumbar spinal cord from rats submitted to peripheral lesion during neonatal period. PDIA3 interacts with thiazide-sensitive sodium-chloride cotransporter in the kidney and is induced by glucose deprivation. PDIA3 is part of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I peptide-loading complex (TAP1), which is important for formation of the final antigen conformation and export from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface.

6PGD is the second dehydrogenase in the pentose phosphate shunt. Pentose is neccesary for nucleic acid biosynthesis. The pentose phosphate cycle is a major source of NADPH 6PGD deficiency is usually asymptomatic, and the inheritance of this disorder is autosomal dominant. PGD deficiency raises the erythrocyte pyruvate kinase levels of activity and decreases glutathione synthetase, resulting in hemolysis.

Human Pin 1 is a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) that interacts with NIMA and essential for cell cycle regulation Pin1 is nuclear PPIase containing a WW protein interaction domain, and is structurally and functionally related to Ess1/Ptf1, an essential protein in budding yeast. PPIase activity is necessary for Ess1/Pin1 function in yeast. Pin1 is thus an essential PPIase that regulates mitosis presumably by interacting with NIMA and attenuating its mitosis-promoting activity. Substrates of Pin1 include the mitotic regulators (Cdc25 phosphatase and NIMA, PLK I, Wee, and Myt1 kinases), several transcription factors like b-Catenin, c-Jun, and the tumor suppressor protein p53, and some specific proteins like the RNA Pol II, the cytoskeleton protein tau, and the G1/S protein Cyclin D1.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 position of membrane glycerophospholipids to liberate arachidonic acid (AA), a precursor of eicosanoids including prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The same reaction also produces lysophosholipids, which represent another class of lipid mediators.
The secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) family, in which 10 isozymes have been identified, consists of lowmolecular weight, Ca2+-requiring secretory enzymes that have been implicated in a number of biological processes, such as modification of eicosanoid generation, inflammation, and host defense.
This enzyme has been proposed to hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine (PC) in lipoproteins to liberate lyso- PC and free fatty acids in the arterial wall, thereby facilitating the accumulation of bioactive lipids and modified lipoproteins in atherosclerotic foci.
In mice, sPLA2 expression significantly influences HDL particle size and composition and demonstrate that an induction of sPLA2 is required for the decrease in plasma HDL cholesterol in response to inflammatory stimuli. Instillation of bacteria into the bronchi was associated with surfactant degradation and a decrease in large:small ratio of surfactant aggregates in rats.
sPLA2-IIA can exert beneficial action in the context of infectious diseases since recent studies have shown that this enzyme exhibits potent bactericidal effects. Induction of the synthesis of sPLA2-IIA is generally initiated by endotoxin and a limited number of cytokines via paracrine and/or autocrine processes.

Polymerase III Polypeptide F (POLR3F) is a member of the eukaryotic RPC34/RPC39 RNA polymerase subunit family. POLR3F is DNA-dependent RNA polymerase which catalyzes the transcription of DNA into RNA using the 4 ribonucleoside triphosphates as substrates. POLR3F is one of many subunits forming eukaryotic RNA polymerase III (RNA Pol III), which transcribes 5S ribosomal RNA and tRNA genes. POLR3F binds both TFIIIB90 and TBP, 2 subunits of RNA polymerase III transcription initiation factor IIIB (TFIIIB).

NEDD8-activating enzyme E1 catalytic subunit (UBA3) is the catalytic subunit of the dimeric UBA3-NAE1 E1 enzyme, which belongs to the E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme family. E1 activates NEDD8 by initially adenylating its C-terminal glycine residue with ATP, afterwards linking this residue to the side chain of the catalytic cysteine, generating a NEDD8-UBA3 thioester and free AMP. E1 at last transfers NEDD8 to the catalytic cysteine of UBE2M. The UBA3 enzyme connects with AppBp1, an amyloid beta precursor protein binding protein, to form a heterodimer, and at that point the enzyme complex activates NEDD8, a ubiquitin-like protein, which controls cell division, signaling and embryogenesis.

UBE2W receives ubiquitin from the E1 complex and catalyzes its covalent attachment to other proteins. In vitro, UBE2W catalyzes monoubiquitination and 'Lys-11'-linked polyubiquitination. UBE2W is broadly expressed, particularly at highest levels in the testis.

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.

Apoptosis-Inducing Factor, Mitochondrion-Associated, 1 (AIFM1) is a mitochondrial protein which translocates to the nucleus once apoptosis has been initiated. AIFM1 causes DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation and also triggers the release of cytochrome c and caspase-9 from mitochondria. Bcl-2 overexpression prevents the release of AIFM1 from mitochondria, but doesn’t block its apoptogenic activity.