Search results

Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) is an enzyme that is a member of the MMP extracellular protease family. Extracellular protease enzymes, by virtue of their broad substrate specificities1, play a role in both normal and disease states of tissue proliferation. Among the targets of MMP-13 are collagen, gelatin, entactin, pro-TNF-a, and chemokine SDF-11-4.
MMP-13 is found in its latent form as a 52-56 kDa glycosylated proenzyme. Upon cleavage the 22-46 kDa5 MMP-1 becomes active in extracellular matrix remodeling.
Because of the prominent role that MMP-1 plays in cell migration and metastasis, it is an important target for inhibition screening.

a-Synuclein (amino acids 1-140), an acidic neuronal protein of 140 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant and is natively unfolded with an extended structure primarily composed of random coils. a-synuclein has been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and more recently, to be an important regulatory component of vesicular transport in neuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies have shown that a-synuclein has chaperone activity and that this activity is lost upon removing its C-terminal acidic tail (amino acids 96-140).

Paralemmin (PALM) belongs to the paralemmin protein family which takes part in plasma membrane dynamics and cell process formation. The product of PALM is related with the cytoplasmic face of plasma membranes and is implicated in plasma membrane dynamics in neurons and other cell types.

CKS2 protein binds to the catalytic subunit of the cyclin dependent kinases and is necessary for their biological function. The CKS2 mRNA is expressed in various patterns through the cell cycle in HeLa cells, which shows spcific role for the encoded protein. CKS2 (CDC28) Protein kinase 2 binds to the catalytic subunit of cyclin-dependent kinases and has thus in involved in cell cycle regulation. CKS2 is required for the first metaphase/anaphase transition during the meiosis. An increase in expression of CKS2 protects the cells from apoptosis. CKS2 is essential during early embryogenesis and cell cycle progression in somatic cells.

GroES protein is the co-chaperonin of GroES in E.coli and assists protein folding. GroEL mediated folding requires the co-chaperonin GroES which is essential for viability. GroES is composed of a single heptameric ring of 10kDa subunits that binds to the ends of the GroEL cylinder. GroES gene was amplified by PCR from E.coli and cloned into an expression vector. This protein was overexpressed in E.coli and was purified by using conventional chromatography techniques.

ICAM-1 also called CD54 is a single chain membrane glycoprotein expressed on the surface of a variety of non-haematopoietic and haematopoietic cell types and has roles in signal transduction, cell signaling and lymphocyte adhesion. ICAM1 binds to integrins such as CD11a / CD18, or CD11b / CD18. ICAM1 is also used by Rhinovirus as a receptor. ICAM-1 is an intercellular adhesion molecule constantly present in low concentrations in the membranes of leukocytes and endothelial cells. When stimulated by cytokine the concentrations significantly increase. ICAM-1 can be stimulated by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA) and is expressed by the vascular endothelium, macrophages and lymphocytes. ICAM-1 is a ligand for LFA-1 which is a receptor found on leukocytes. Upon activation, leukocytes bind to endothelial cells via ICAM-1/LFA-1 and then transmigrate into tissues. ICAM-1 is implicated in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Levels of ICAM-1 are shown to be notably elevated in patients with SAH. Soluble ICAM-1 is detectable in the plasma and is elevated in patients with various inflammatory conditions.

Fibroblast Growth Factor-6 (FGF6) belongs to the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess extensive mitogenic and cell survival functions, and are involved in various biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. The FGF6 gene displayes oncogenic transforming activity when transfected into mammalian cells. The mouse homolog of the FGF6 gene displays a restricted expression profile predominantly in the myogenic lineage, suggesting a role in muscle regeneration or differentiation.

Sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a beta-globulin which specifically binds steroid hormones; it is involved in the transport of sex steroids in plasma. The main site of SHBG synthesis is assumed to be the hepatocytes. The production of SHBG is regulated by androgen/estrogen balance, thyroid hormones, insulin and dietary factors, among others. The concentration of SHBG is a key factor regulating their distribution between protein-bound and free states. SHBG concentration determination is primarily significant in the evaluation of mild disorders of androgen metabolism and it allows detection of women with hirsutism who are likely to react to estrogen therapy. Testosterone/SHBG-ratios correlate well with both measured and calculated values for free testosterone thus aid to distinguish between subjects with excessive androgen activity and normal individuals. SHBG gene polymorphisms are linked with polycystic ovary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Protein Phosphatase 4 Catalytic subunit (PPP4C), is a part of the Serine/threonine-protein phosphatase catalytic subunits which tskes part in dephosphorylation and regulation of HDAC3. The protein phosphatase (PP) holoenzyme is a trimeric complex compound of a regulatory subunit, a variable subunit and a catalytic subunit. 4 major families of protein phosphatase catalytic subunits have been identified, designated PP1, PP2A, PP2B (calcineurin) and PP2C.

STIP1 is an adaptor protein that mediates the functions of HSP70 & HSP90 in protein folding. STIP1 supports the transfer of proteins from HSP70 to HSP90 by binding together HSP90 and substrate-bound HSP70. STIP1 stimulates the ATPase activity of HSP70 and inhibits the ATPase activity of HSP90, suggesting that it regulates both the conformations and ATPase cycles of these chaperones. STIP1 genetic variations are involved in regulating corticosteroid response in asthmatic subjects with reduced lung function.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important signaling protein involved in vessel formation 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 vasculogenesis and endothelial cell production, 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. VEGF is located in normal cartilage though only osteoarthritic cartilage expresses the VEGF receptors, NP1, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. The VEGF level in the culture media from OA chondrocytes was more than 3 folds higher than in media from normal chondrocytes

AMRC10 is a protein which contains an armadillo repeat and transmembrane domain. Upregulation of the AMRC10 gene has a role in hepatocellular carcinoma. AMRC10 decreases the transcriptional activity of the tumor suppressor protein p53 through direct interaction with the DNA-binding domain of p53, moreover it might play a role in cell growth and survival.

Signal recognition particle 19kDa protein (SRP19) is a member of the SRP19 family. SRP19 binds directly to 7S RNA and mediates binding of the 54 kDa subunit of the SRP.

Fibronectin Leucine Rich Transmembrane Protein 3, also known as FLRT3 is a member of the fibronectin leucine rich transmembrane protein (FLRT) family. FLRT3 contains one fibronectin type-III domain as well as 10 LRR (leucine-rich) repeats and is expressed in the kidney, brain, pancreas, skeletal muscle, lung, liver, placenta, and heart. In addition, the members of the FLRT family play a role in cell adhesion as well as receptor signaling. FLRT3 has been implicated in neurite outgrowth after nerve damage, as a positive regulator of FGF signalling and in homotypic cell adhesion. Furthermore, FLRT3 has an essential function in regulating cellular adhesion among the epithelial apical ridge and the underlying mesenchyme and also in the establishment of the dorso-ventral position of the ridge.

TGFB1-induced anti-apoptotic factor 1 (TIAF1) hinders the cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha and overexpressed TNF receptor adapters TRADD, FADD, and RIPK1. The TIAF1 protein is involved in TGF-beta1 inhibition of IkappaB-alpha expression and suppression of TNF-mediated IkappaB-alpha degradation. TIAF1 is not detected in normal kidney and liver. TIAF1 is up-regulated in chronic and acute allograft rejection: expressed in the inflammatory infiltrate and in tubular epithelial cells.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (CEACAM1) belongs to the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene family which is a part of the immunoglobulin superfamily. CEACAM1 is a cell adhesion protein which mediates homophilic cell adhesion in a calcium-independent way. CEACAM1 is a surface glycoprotein expressed on various blood cells, epithelial cells, and vascular cells. CEACAM1 functions as coinhibitory receptor in immune response, and plays a role also as an activator during angiogenesis.

MAPT is a neuronal microtubule associated protein localized mostly on axons.
MAPT promotes tubulin polymerisation and stabilizes microtubules, however it also serves to connect certain signalling pathways to the cytoskeleton. MAPT, in its hyperphosphorylated form, is the main part of paired helical filaments (PHF) and neurofibrillary lesions in Alzheimer''s disease (AD) brain.

Receptor-associated Protein (aka RAP) averts the GCM-mediated enhancement of axon growth- ApoE-containing lipoproteins which are known to bind to receptors of the LDLr superfamily. In the presence of RAP, GCM doesn’t increase the axon extension rate in relation to base medium. Furthermore, the addition of RAP to the base medium doesn’t change the rate of axon extension. This implies that the growth stimulatory effect of apoE-containing lipoproteins secreted by glial cells is mediated by the LDLr family receptors. RAP annuls the growth stimulatory effect of GCM.

Death-Associated Protein (DAP) is a proline-rich protein. DAP, which is a negative regulator of autophagy, takes part in the mediation of IFN-gamma-induced cell death.

GCSF is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes. The active protein is found extracellularly. Three transcript variants encoding three different isoforms have been found for this gene. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factors are cytokines that act in hematopoiesis by controlling the production, differentiation, and function of 2 related white cell populations of the blood, the granulocytes and the monocytes-macrophages. This csf induces granulocytes.

HSPA9 is part of the heat shock protein 70 family which contains both heat-inducible and constitutively expressed members that are also called heat-shock cognate proteins. HSPA9 encodes a heat-shock cognate protein that is involved in the control of cell proliferation and acts as a chaperone. HSPA9 was restricted to chromosome 5, band q31, a region that is often deleted in myeloid leukemias and myelodysplasia (MDS), making it a candidate tumor suppressor gene, which is consistent with the biological function of its murine homologue. HSPA9 supresses nuclear translocation, transcriptional activation, and control of centrosome-duplication functions of p53.

ATPaseTransporting Beta 2 (ATP1B2) is the non-catalytic component of the active enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP coupled with the exchange of Na+ and K+ ions across the plasma membrane. The precise function of the beta-2 subunit is not known. The ATP1B2 protein is composed of 3 subunits: alpha (catalytic), beta and gamma.

EEF1A1 is an isoform of the alpha subunit of the elongation factor-1 complex, which is responsible forthe enzymatic release of aminoacyl tRNAs to the ribosome. EEF1A1 is expressed in brain, placenta, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas, and the other isoform (alpha 2) is expressed in brain, heart and skeletal muscle. EEF1A1 is recognized as an autoantigen in 66% of patients with Felty syndrome. EEF1A1 has multiple copies on numerous chromosomes, part of them, if not all, symbolize different pseudogenes. Among the diseases associated with EEF1A1 are tinea nigra and andcervical cancer.

SPG21 binds to the hydrophobic C-terminal amino acids of CD4 which take part in suppression of CD-4 dependant T cell activation. The interaction with CD4 is mediated by the noncatalytic alpha/beta hydrolase fold domain. SPG21 adapts the stimulatory activity of CD4. SPG21 is broadly expressed in diverse tissues including heart, brain, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas. Mutations in SPG21 cause Mast syndrome, an autosomal-recessive complicated form of hereditary spastic paraplegia characterized by dementia, thin corpus callosum and white matter abnormalities.