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Cadherin 11 (CDH11) belongs to the cadherin superfamily (integral membrane proteins) which mediate calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion. CDH11 is defined based on lacking a HAV cell adhesion recognition sequence specific to type I cadherins. CDH11 protein’s expression in osteoblastic cell lines, and its upregulation during differentiation, suggests a specific function in bone development and maintenance. CDH11 contributes to the sorting of heterogeneous cell types.

Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide (GIP) which is a significant hormone of the enteroinsular axis has a functional profile of possible therapeutic value for type 2 diabetes. GIP is an important incretin hormone released into the circulation from endocrine K-cells of the duodenum and jejunum after ingestion of food1. GIP was evaluated for his ability to elevate cellular cAMP production. GIP promotes plasma triglyceride clearance in response to oral fat loading.

Wheat Gliadin and related gluten components from barley, rye and possibly oats can cause an abnormal immune response called Celiac disease which is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder. Celiac disease characteristics are flattening of the jejunal mucosa and intestinal lesions of variable severity in hereditarily inclined individuals. Even though Celiac disease is not a classic autoimmune disease it is related to anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies and gliadin antibodies tests are most recommended in screening populations at risk for CD and other gluten-sensitive enteropathies. In the past, serologic tests for gliadin antibodies usually were not very precise and were not enough for accurate diagnosis due to missing deamidated epitopes within the authentic gliadin fraction traditionally used in diagnostic test kits. ProSpec's deamidated Gliadin isoform matches to the deamidated neo-epitopes, which in the natural antigen are formed by transglutaminase-mediated glutamine side chain deamidation.

GOLM1 is a type II Golgi transmembrane protein. GOLM1 processes protein synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and aids in transporting protein cargo through the Golgi apparatus. The expression of this encoded protein was shown to be upregulated in response to viral infection. Additionally, since GOLM1 is highly regulated in cells, it can be used as a molecular biomarker for cancer.

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. MCSF induces cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. MCSF plays a role in immunological defenses, bone metabolism, lipoproteins clearance, fertility and pregnancy.

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) belongs to the Ena-VASP protein family. VASP is linked with filamentous actin formation and likely plays a widespread role in cell adhesion and motility. In addition, VASP may be involved in the intracellular signaling pathways which regulate integrin-extracellular matrix interactions.

COPZ1 is a member of the adaptor complexes small subunit family. Coatomer is an oligomeric complex which contains as a minimum the alpha, beta, beta', gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta subunits. The zeta subunit has a part in regulating the coat assembly and, therefore, the rate of biosynthetic protein transport due to its association-dissociation properties with the coatomer complex.

Vanin 1 (VNN1) belongs to the vanin family of proteins, which share extensive sequence similarity with each other, and also with biotinidase. This family includes secreted and membrane-associated proteins, a few of which have been described to participate in hematopoietic cell trafficking. No biotinidase activity has been established for any of the vanin proteins; nevertheless, they possess pantetheinase activity, which may have a role in oxidative-stress response. VNN1 protein, like its mouse homolog, is probably a GPI-anchored cell surface molecule. The mouse VNN1 protein is expressed by the perivascular thymic stromal cells and regulates migration of T-cell progenitors to the thymus. VNN1 is an amidohydrolase which hydrolyzes specifically one of the carboamide linkages in D-pantetheine thus recycling pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).

RAMP belongs to the type I transmembrane family of proteins called RAMP (receptor/calcitonin activity modifying proteins) which include an extracellular N terminus and a cytoplasmic C terminus. RAMPs are essential for CRLR transport to the plasma membrane. CRLR (calcitonin-receptor-like receptor) has seven transmembrane domains. Depending on which members of the RAMP family are expressed CRLR receptor functions as either an adrenomedullin receptor or a calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. In the presence of RAMP1, CRLR functions as a CGRP receptor. The RAMP1 protein takes part in the terminal glycosylation, maturation, and presentation of the CGRP receptor to the cell surface.

WLS (Wnt trafficking regulator) is a multipass transmembrane protein which regulates the sorting and secretion of Wnt protein. WLS is necessitated for organogenesis during embryogenesis and for the establishment of the anterior-posterior axis. WLS is encoded by a gene which maps to human chromosome 1 and is expressed as multiple alternatively spliced isoforms. WLS promotes various cancers such as glioma tumourigenesis.

Listeriolysin O (aka LLO) is a hemolysin produced by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, the pathogen responsible for causing listeriosis. The toxin may be regarded as a virulence factor, since it is crucial for the virulence of L. monocytogenes. LLO is a single polypeptide protein encoded by the hlyA gene and composed of 529 residues. LLO is a thiol-activated cholesterol-dependent pore forming toxin protein; therefore, it is activated by reducing agents and inhibited by oxidizing agents. Still, LLO differs from other thiol-activated toxins, as its cytolytic activity is maximized at a pH of 5.5. Inside the acidic phagosomes (average pH ~ 5.9) of cells that have phagocytosed L. monocytogenes, LLO is selectively activated by maximizing activity at a pH of 5.5. Following the phagosome lysis by LLO, the bacterium breaks out into the cytosol, where it is able to grow intracellularly, and the toxin has reduced activity in the more basic cytosol. Thus, LLO permits L. monocytogenes to break out from the phagosomes into the cytosol without harming the plasma membrane of the infected cell, which allows the bacteria to live intracellularly, where they are sheltered from extracellular immune system factors such as the complement system and antibodies. LLO also brings about dephosphorylation of histone H3 and deacetylation of histone H4 in the early phases of infection, before entry of L. monocytogenes into the host cell. The pore-forming activity is not implicated in causing the histone modifications. The modifications of the histones affect the down regulation of genes encoding proteins involved in the inflammatory response. Therefore, LLO may be significant in subverting the host immune response to L. monocytogenes. At its NH2-terminus it possesses a 25 residues long typical signal sequence excited during the secretion process. Moreover, in its NH2-terminus there is also a 19 amino acids PEST- like sequence that may target this toxin for degradation. The PEST-like sequence found in LLO and is considered crucial for virulence, given that mutants lacking the sequence lysed the host cell. Nevertheless, contrary to PEST's supposed role in protein degradation, evidence implies that the PEST-like sequence may control LLO production in the cytosol rather than increase degradation of LLO.

SERPINA1 is secreted and is a serine protease inhibitor which its targets include elastase, plasmin, collagenase, leucocytic proteases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and plasminogen activator. Defects in SERPINA1 gene can cause emphysema or liver disease. SERPINA1 is an endogenous inhibitor of serine proteases and inhibits the catalytic domain of human recombinant matriptase in vitro. Rise in SERPINA1 occurs as an acute phase response to tissue necrosis and inflammation. mutations in SERPINA1 and SLC11A1 genes change the balance between elastase produced by leukocytes during phagocytosis.

MIG (CXCL9) is a small cytokine which is part of the CXC chemokine family. MIG, which is also recognized as monokine is induced by gamma interferon. MIG is related to 2 other CXC chemokines named CXCL10 and CXCL11, whose genes are located next to the gene for CXCL9 on human chromosome 4. CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 obtain their chemotactic functions by interacting with the chemokine receptor CXCR3.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as Monokine induced by MIG. CXCL9 is a T-cell chemoattractant. It is closely related to two other CXC chemokines called CXCL10 and CXCL11, whose genes are located near the gene for CXCL9 on human chromosome 4. CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 all elicit their chemotactic functions by interacting with the chemokine receptor CXCR3.

SCO Cytochrome Oxidase Deficient Homolog 1, also known as SCO1 is a member of the SCO1/2 family. Mammalian cytochrome c oxidase (COX) catalyzes the transfer of reducing equivalents from cytochrome c to molecular oxygen and pumps protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, in yeast, two related COX assembly genes, SCO1 & SCO2 which are synthesis of cytochrome c oxidase, enable subunits 1 as well as 2 to be incorporated into the holoprotein. This gene is the human homolog to the yeast SCO1 gene. Among the diseases associated with SCO1 are hepatic failure, early-onset, neurologic disorder due to cytochrome c oxidase deficiency and fatal infantile cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

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.

DCTN2 is a 50kDa subunit of dynactin, which is a macromolecular complex consisting of 10-11 subunits ranging in size from 22 to 150 kDa. Dynactin binds to both microtubules and cytoplasmic dynein. Dynactin is involved in a various cellular functions, including ER-to-Golgi transport, the centripetal movement of lysosomes and endosomes, spindle formation, chromosome movement, nuclear positioning, and axonogenesis. The DCTN2 subunit is present in 4-5 copies per dynactin molecule. DCTN2 is comprised of 3 short alpha-helical coiled-coil domains which mediate association with self or other dynactin subunits. DCTN2 interacts directly with the largest subunit (p150) of dynactin and is able to affix p150 in place. DCTN2 modulates cytoplasmic dynein binding to an organelle, and plays a part in prometaphase chromosome alignment and spindle organization during mitosis. DCTN2 is involved in anchoring microtubules to centrosomes. DCTN2 has a role in synapse formation during brain development.

DCUN1D1 takes part in the malignant transformation of squamous cell lineage. DCUN1D1 protein regulates Gli1, a main regulator of the hedgehog (HH) pathway which takes a vital role in development, maintenance, and regeneration of practically all adult tissues.

Homeodomain-only protein (HOPX) functions via its interaction with SRF, thus modulating the expression of SRF-dependent cardiac-specific genes and cardiac development. HOPX inhibits SRF-dependent transcription either by hindering SRF binding to DNA or by engaging histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins which prevent transcription by SRF. HOPX is a homeodomain protein which lacks certain conserved residues required for DNA binding. HOPX overexpression causes cardiac hypertrophy.

NACA belongs to the nascent polypeptide associated complex (NAC) alpha subunit family which takes part in inhibiting unsuitable targeting of non-secretory polypeptides to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). NACA proteins are usually restricted to the nucleus and cytoplasm and hold NAC-A/B (NAC-alpha/beta) and UBA (ubiquitin-associated) domains. The UBA domain is related to proteins which takes part in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway for protein degradation.

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.

The secreted polypeptide noggin, encoded by the NOG gene, binds and inactivates members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily signaling proteins, such as bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4). By diffusing through extracellular matrices more efficiently than members of the TGF-beta superfamily, noggin may have a principal role in creating morphogenic gradients. Noggin appears to have pleiotropic effect, both early in development as well as in later stages. It was originally isolated from Xenopus based on its ability to restore normal dorsal-ventral body axis in embryos that had been artificially ventralized by UV treatment. The results of the mouse knockout of noggin suggest that it is involved in numerous developmental processes, such as neural tube fusion and joint formation. Recently, several dominant human NOG mutations in unrelated families with proximal symphalangism (SYM1) and multiple synostoses syndrome (SYNS1) were identified; both SYM1 and SYNS1 have multiple joint fusion as their principal feature, and map to the same region (17q22) as NOG. All NOG mutations altered evolutionarily conserved amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of human noggin is highly homologous to that of Xenopus, rat and mouse.

The secreted polypeptide noggin, encoded by the NOG gene, binds and inactivates members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily signaling proteins, such as bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4). By diffusing through extracellular matrices more efficiently than members of the TGF-beta superfamily, noggin may have a principal role in creating morphogenic gradients. Noggin appears to have pleiotropic effect, both early in development as well as in later stages. It was originally isolated from Xenopus based on its ability to restore normal dorsal-ventral body axis in embryos that had been artificially ventralized by UV treatment. The results of the mouse knockout of noggin suggest that it is involved in numerous developmental processes, such as neural tube fusion and joint formation. Recently, several dominant human NOG mutations in unrelated families with proximal symphalangism (SYM1) and multiple synostoses syndrome (SYNS1) were identified; both SYM1 and SYNS1 have multiple joint fusion as their principal feature, and map to the same region (17q22) as NOG. All NOG mutations altered evolutionarily conserved amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of human noggin is highly homologous to that of Xenopus, rat and mouse.