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Cystatins are a superfamily of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in both plants and animals. They comprise a group of proteinase inhibitors, widely distributed in tissues and body fluids, and form tight complexes with cysteine proteases such as cathepsin B, H, L and S. Cystatin C, a secreted molecule of this family, is of interest from biochemical, medicine and evolutionary points of view. Cystatin C, with molecular weight of 13260 Da, is composed of 120 amino acids, lacks carbohydrate and has two disulfide bridges located near the carboxyl terminus. Cystatin C is increased in patients with malignant diseases, and is related to the insufficiency of renal function and appears to be a better marker than creatinine. On the other hand, low levels of cystatin C involve cause the breakdown of the elastic laminae and, subsequently, the atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

CD30 Ligand (TNFSF8) is a cytokine which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. The TNFSF8 cytokine is a ligand for TNFRSF8/CD30, which is a cell surface antigen and a marker for Hodgkin lymphoma and related hematologic malignancies. The employment of the TNFSF8 cytokine expressed on B cell surface has an inhibitory role in modulating Ig class switch. TNFSF8 enhances cell proliferation of some lymphoma cell lines, while inducing cell death and reducing cell proliferation of other lymphoma cell lines. The pleiotropic biological activities of the TNFSF8 cytokine on different CD30+ lymphoma cell lines has a pathophysiologic role in Hodgkin's and some non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

HB-EGF is an EGF related growth factor which signals via the EGF receptor, and stimulates the proliferation of SMC (smooth muscle cells), fibroblasts, epithelial cells and keratinocytes. HB-EGF is expressed in various cell types and tissues, including vascular endothelial cells and SMC, macrophages, skeletal muscle, keratinocytes and particular tumor cells. HB-EGF’s ability to explicitly bind HPR sulfate proteoglycans is dissimilar from other EGF-like molecules, and might be related to the enhanced mitogenic activity, relative to EGF, that HB-EGF exerts on smooth muscle cells.

Oncostatin M is a member of a cytokine family that includes leukemia-inhibitory factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin 6. This gene encodes a growth regulator which inhibits the proliferation of a number of tumor cell lines. It regulates cytokine production, including IL-6, G-CSF and GM-CSF from endothelial cells.

Tyrosylprotein Sulfotransferase 2 (TPST2) is a member of the protein sulfotransferase family. TPST2 is a widely expressed protein, which catalyzes the O-sulfation of tyrosine residues within acidic regions of proteins. The TPST2 protein is a type II integral membrane protein located in the Golgi body.

CD44 is a cell-surface glycoprotein that plays a role in cell-cell interactions, cell adhesion and migration. CD44 is a receptor for hyaluronic acid and also interacts with other ligands, such as osteopontin, collagens, and matrix metalloproteinases. CD44 participates in a wide variety of cellular functions such as lymphocyte activation, recirculation and homing, hematopoiesis, and tumor metastasis. CD44 and CD49d are putative activity markers and CD44 a potential novel therapeutic target in multiple sclerosis. Increased CD44 antigen is associated with relapses in non-small cell lung cancers.

Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins consisting of an ? chain and a ? chain. CD11b is an I-domain including ? integrin combines with the ? 2 chain (ITGB2) to form a leukocyte-specific integrin referred to as macrophage receptor also called MAC1. The ? M beta 2 integrin is crucial in the adherence of neutrophils and monocytes to stimulated endothelium, and also in the phagocytosis of complement coated particles. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.

CTNNBIP1 binds CTNNB1 and avoids interaction between CTNNB1 and TCF (T-cell transcription factor) family members. CTNNBIP1 is a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway.

Nuclear Receptor-Interacting Protein (NRIP3)is a 241 amino acid protein which is encoded by a gene that maps to human chromosome 11.Diseases associated with NRIP3 include sarcoma, and acute myeloid leukemia.

GNB2L1 was first known as an anchoring protein for protein kinase C beta (PKCbeta), which it stabilizes in the active state and anchors to membranes or functional sites. But, there is now confirmation that GNB2L1 has an essential part of in critical biological responses. GNB2L1 binds specifically to the active form of PKCbeta isoforms and cooperates with numerous other vital signaling proteins such as the androgen receptor, the Src kinase family, integrin beta1, integrin beta2, integrin beta3 and integrin beta5, beta-spectrin and dynamin, RasGAP, IGF-1r, Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator protein BZLF1, p73 and pRB. GNB2L1 is highly expressed in tissues of higher mammals and humans including spleen, liver and brain.

The Casein kinase 2 (EC 2.7.11.1) is a serine/threonine-selective protein kinase that 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 cycle control, DNA repair, regulation of the circadian rhythm and other cellular processes. Casein kinase 2 activity has been reported to be activated following Wnt signaling pathway activation. A Pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and 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.

Tyrosine-protein kinase Lyn (LYN) belongs to the src family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases, which is primarily expressed in haematopoietic tissues. LYN protein is involved in induction of stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK), but not ERK or p38 MAPK, in response to genotoxic agents. LYN protein stimulates SAPK by a MKK7- and MEKK1-dependent mechanism. The LYN - MEKK1 - MKK7 - SAPK pathway is efficient in the induction of apoptosis by genotoxic agents.

SET is part of a complex localized to the endoplasmic reticulum however is found in the nucleus. SET inhibits apoptosis following attack by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and can also enhance DNA replication of the adenovirus genome. SET inhibits acetylation of nucleosomes, particularly histone H4, by histone acetylases (HAT). This inhibition is accomplished by masking histone lysines from being acetylated.

CLDN4 encodes an integral membrane protein that is a member of the claudin family. CLDN4 is a factor of tight junction strands and takes part in internal organ development and function in pre- and postnatal life.
CLDN4 is removed in Williams-Beuren syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting multiple systems.

Ephrin-B3 (EFNB3) which belongs to the ephrin gene family is essential in brain development as well as in its maintenance. EFNB3 binds to, and induces the collapse of, commissural axons/growth cones in vitro. EFNB3 loosely binds Eph receptors located on bordering cells, leading to contact-dependent bidirectional signaling into neighboring cells. The EPH and EPH-related receptors comprise the largest subfamily of receptor protein-tyrosine kinases and are implicated in mediating developmental events, mostly in the nervous system.

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.

Nectin Cell Adhesion Molecule 2, also known as NECTIN2, is a Ca(2+)-independent cell-cell adhesion molecule which is one of the plasma membrane components of adherens junctions. NECTIN2 takes a vital part in the establishment of homotypic as well as heterotypic cell to cell contacts. NECTIN2 is essential for resisting herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in transfected cells. NECTIN2 is also a possible target for antibody therapy of breast & ovarian cancers. NECTIN2 might be related with human longevity. Two diseases which have been associated with NECTIN2 are Herpes Simplex and Ovarian Cystic Teratoma.

EFNB1 is a member of the Eph family. The cell-surface proteins Ephrins split into two groups, ephrin-A and ephrin-B, based on their structure and function and perform as ligands for Eph receptors. The transmembrane EFNB1 proteins have conserved cytoplasmic tyrosine residues that are phosphorylated upon interaction with an EphB receptor. In addition, EFNB1 transduces outside-in signals by C-terminal protein interfaces which influence integrin-mediated cell attachment and migration.

Oral cancer-overexpressed protein 1 (ORAOV1) is a candidate oncogene in the 11q13 chromosomal region. Functional analyses showed that ORAOV1 was involved in the regulation of HeLa cell growth via its effect on cell cycle and apoptosis. ORAOV1 is widely expressed; it has a high expression in the placenta, kidney and skeletal muscle. ORAOV1 is amplified and overexpressed in oral cancer cells.

ANXA8 is part of the annexin family of evolutionarily conserved Ca2+ and phospholipid binding proteins. ANXA8 is an anticoagulant protein that functions as an indirect inhibitor of the thromboplastin-specific complex, which takes part in the blood coagulation cascade. Where co-expressed in the same tissues, ANXA8 is expressed at a 100-fold lower level than Annexin A5. Though, ANXA8 is preferentially expressed in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells which suggests its involvement in hematopoietic cell differentiation.

FK506 Binding Protein 5 (FKBP5) belongs to the immunophilin protein family, which has a role in immunoregulation and basic cellular processes involving protein folding and trafficking. FKBP5 is a cis-trans prolyl isomerase, which binds to the immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin. FKBP5 is an immunophilin protein with PPIase and co-chaperone activities. FKBP5 is assumed to mediate calcineurin inhibition. FKBP5 is a component of unligated steroid receptors heterocomplexes through interaction with heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90). In addition, FKBP5 interacts functionally with mature hetero-oligomeric progesterone receptor complexes along with the 90 kDa heat shock protein and P23 protein.

NECTIN3, also known as Nectin Cell Adhesion Molecule 3, is part of the nectin family. NECTIN3 is intended to initiate cell-cell adhesion to stimulate cell attachment and to allow subsequent formation of JAM-and cadherin-based intercellular junctions. NECTIN3 induces endocytosis-mediated down-regulation of PVR from the cell surface, which results in reduction of cell movement & proliferation. Following Nectin-3 activity adds strength to the junction through trans-interaction with various molecules.

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) which integrate signals between receptors and effector proteins, are comprised of an alpha, a beta and a gamma subunit. The alpha, beta and gamma subunits are encoded by families of related genes. GNB1 encodes a beta subunit. Beta subunits are vital regulators of alpha subunits, as well as of certain signal transduction receptors and effectors. G proteins are involved as a modulator or transducer in numerous transmembrane signaling systems. The beta and gamma chains are necessary for the GTPase activity, for replacement of GDP by GTP, and for G protein-effector interaction.