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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.

Endothelial cells express three different vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, belonging to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). They are named VEGFR-1 (Flt-1), VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1), VEGFR-3 (Flt-4). Their expression is almost exclusively restricted to endothelial cells, but VEGFR-1 can also be found on monocytes. All VEGF-receptors have seven immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains, a single transmembrane region and an intracellular split tyrosine kinase domain. VEGFR-2 has a lower affinity for VEGF than the Flt-1 receptor, but a higher signaling activity. Mitogenic activity in endothelial cells is mainly mediated by VEGFR-2 leading to their proliferation.
Differential splicing of the flt-1 gene leads to the formation of a secreted, soluble variant of VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1). No naturally occuring, secreted forms of VEGFR-2 have so far been reported. The binding of VEGF165 to VEGFR-2 is dependent on heparin.

WHSC2 (NELF-A) is a protein factor required for DRB-sensitive transcription. WHSC2 is one of the 5 components of the multisubunit NELF complex which cooperates with DSIF to repress RNA polymerase II elongation. The Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome is a multiple malformation syndrome characterized by mental and developmental defects resulting from a hemizygous deletion of the distal short arm of chromosome 4 (4p16.3).

The Casein kinase 2 (EC2.7.11.1) is a serine/threonine-selective protein kinasethat is a tetramer of two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. The alpha subunits have the catalytic kinase domain. Casein kinase 2 has been implicated in cell cyclecontrol, DNA repair, regulation of the circadian rhythmand other cellular processes. Casein kinase 2 activity has been reported to be activated following Wnt signaling pathwayactivation. A Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteinand Disheveled appear to be an intermediary between Wnt-mediated activation of the Frizzled receptor and activation of casein kinase 2.
Mice that lack casein kinase 2 alpha prime have a defect in the morphology of developing sperm.

Acyl-CoA binding domain containing 6, also known as ACBD6 contains 1 ACB (acyl-CoA-binding) domain and 2 ANK repeats. ACBD6 binds long-chain acyl-coenzyme A molecules with a strong preference for unsaturated C18:1 CoA, lower affinity for unsaturated C20:4-CoA, and extremely weak affinity for saturated C16:0-CoA. Moreover ACBD6 does not bind fatty acids. ACBD6 has been detected in placenta, umbilical cord blood, CD34-positive hematopoietic progenitor cells and bone marrow. Endotheliitis has been associated with ACBD6.

Inhibins are dimeric peptide hormones produced by female ovarian granulose cells and male Sertoli cells as well as a variety of other tissues. Inhibins have two isoforms, A and B, with the same alpha subunit but different beta subunits. Inhibin A is a dimer of alpha and beta A subunits, inhibin B is a dimer of alpha and beta B subunits.
Inhibins are thought to inhibit the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the pituitary gland. In addition, Inhibins are also thought to play a role in the control of gametogenesis, and embryonic and fetal development.

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.

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.

SEPT5 is a member of the septin gene family of nucleotide binding proteins which were initially defined in yeast as cell division cycle regulatory proteins. Septins are extremely conserved in yeast, Drosophila, and mouse and seem to regulate cytoskeletal organization. Interference of septin function disrupts cytokinesis and results in high multinucleate or polyploid cells.

HPSE also known as Heparanase-1 is an enzyme which cleaves heparan sulfate proteoglycans to allow cell movement through changing the extracellular matrix. In fact, the Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are major components of the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. In addition, this cleavage can release bioactive molecules from the extracellular matrix. HPSE is significant for the overall degradation of proteins in lysosomes.

Annexin A10 (ANXA10) is a member of the annexin family of calcium-binding proteins that contains a few members which are described by a conserved core domain that binds phospholipids in a Ca2+-dependent manner, and a unique amino-terminal region, which may convene binding specificity. The ANXA10 protein contains 4 annexin domains and might be required in the regulation of cellular growth and signal transduction pathways throughout the cell.

Adipocyte plasma membrane-associated protein, also known as APMAP, is a member of the strictosidine synthase family. APMAP exhibits strong arylesterase activity with beta-naphthyl acetate in addition to phenyl acetate and takes part in adipocyte differentiation.

NDE1 is a cytoplasmic protein which is a member of the nudE protein family. Phosphorylated during mitosis, NDE1 is critical for the formation and function of the mitotic spindle in M phase and functions to regulate the Dynein-mediated transport of kinetochore proteins, as well as centrosome duplication during interphase. NDE1 is believed to interact with NDEL1, LIS1 and Dynein IC1/2, cytosolic in a signaling pathway which regulates the formation of neurons and is fundamental to the development of the cerebral cortex.

Amyloid beta A4 protein (APP) functions as a cell surface receptor and transmembrane precursor protein which is cleaved by secretases to form a number of peptides. A number of these peptides are secreted and can bind to the acetyltransferase complex APBB1/TIP60 to stimulate transcriptional activation, whereas others form the protein basis of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease. APP gene mutations are implicated in autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease and cerebroarterial amyloidosis (cerebral amyloid angiopathy).

TCEB2 is a subunit of the SIIII complex which is a heterotrimer consisting of a transcriptionally active subunit (A) and two regulatory subunits (B and C). TCEB2 initiates elongation by RNA polymerase II by suppressing transient pausing of the polymerase at many sites within transcription units. The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein binds to elongins B and C, and thereby inhibits transcription elongation.

EMC2 is an element of the ER membrane protein complex. EMC2 is a member of the EMC2 family and holds 3 TPR repeats.

SRGN is identified as a hematopoietic cell granule proteoglycan. Proteoglycans stored in the secretory granules of various hematopoietic cells also hold a protease-resistant peptide core, and is vital for neutralizing hydrolytic enzymes. SRGN is related to the macromolecular complex of granzymes and perforin that acts as a intermediary of granule-mediated apoptosis.

Defensins form a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides made by neutrophils. Members of the defensin family are highly similar in protein sequence. This gene encodes defensin, beta 103A, which has broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and may play an important role in innate epithelial defense.

Eotaxin-3 (CCL26) is a small cytokine that belongs to the CC chemokine family also known as TARC (thymus and activation regulated chemokine). CCL26 is major eotaxin produced and released by alveolar epithelial cells which is involved in autoregulation of CCR3 receptors and other eotaxins. Eotaxin-3 is involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. Eotaxin-3 specifically binds and stimulates chemotaxis in T cells and elicits its effects by interacting with the chemokine receptor CCR4. CCL26 exhibits chemotactic activity for normal peripheral blood eosinophils and basophils. Eotaxin-3 may play a part in the eosinophil accumulation in atopic diseases. Eotaxin-3 is overexpressed in eosinophilic esophagitis, and the expression level correlates with disease severity. Eotaxin-3 is expressed constitutively in thymus, but only briefly in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CCL26 is one of two Cys-Cys (CC) cytokine genes clustered on the q arm of chromosome 7.

Syntaxin is membrane integrated Q-SNARE protein participating in exocytosis. Syntaxin is composed of an N-terminal regulatory domain (Habc), a SNARE domain (known as H3), and a single C-terminal transmembrane domain. The SNARE (H3) domain binds to both synaptobrevin and SNAP-25 forming the core SNARE complex. Synaptic vesicles store neurotransmitters that are released during calcium-regulated exocytosis. The specificity of neurotransmitter release requires the localization of both synaptic vesicles and calcium channels to the presynaptic active zone. Syntaxins function in this vesicle fusion process. Syntaxins also serve as a substrate for botulinum neurotoxin type C, a metalloprotease that blocks exocytosis and has high affinity for a molecular complex that includes the alpha-latrotoxin receptor which produces exocytosis.

Syntaxin-binding protein 6 (STXBP6) binds components of the SNARE complex and takes part in regulating SNARE complex configuration. STXBP6 forms non-fusogenic complexes with SNAP25 and STX1A and modulates the formation of SNARE complexes and exocytosis.

V-Ets Avian Erythroblastosis Virus E26 Oncogene 2 (ETS2) is a transcription factor that regulates genes involved in development and apoptosis. ETS2 is also a protooncogene which takes part in regulation of telomerase. ETS2 protein’s pseudogene is located on the X chromosome.

Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase domain-containing protein 1 (FAHD1) is a member of the FAH family. FAHD1 is considered to have hydrolase activity and it uses Magnesium and Calcium as cofactors. It seems quite likely that the metal binding sites are involved in an enzymatic activity connected to the catabolism of aromatic amino acids.

Podoplanin is a small mucin-like type-1 transmembrane protein, typically expressed in various specialized cell types throughout the body. Podoplanin is a type-I integral membrane glycoprotein with diverse distribution in human tissues. PDPN physiological function is related to its mucin-type character. The homologous protein in other species has been described as a differentiation antigen and influenza-virus receptor.
PDPN is expressed in lymphatic progenitor cells and afterwards during mouse development in lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is a specific marker for lymph vessel endothelial cells. Over-expression of podoplanin significantly elevates endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and tube formation. Inhibition of Podoplanin expression decreases cell adhesion in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is used as a specific marker for lymphatic endothelium in histopathology.
Podoplanin expression is increased in nearly all human colon, rectum, and small intestine tumors. AGGRUS may serve as a diagnostic marker that distinguishes seminomas, the majority of which over express the protein, from embryonal carcinoma in testicular germ cell tumors.