Search results

Complement Factor D (Adipsin), which belongs to the trypsin family of peptidases, is involved in the alternative complement pathway of the complement system where it cleaves factor B. In the alternative complement pathway, Adipsin is best known for its role in humoral suppression of infectious agents. In addition, Adipsin is a serine protease which is secreted by adipocytes into the bloodstream. Ultimately, Adipsin has a high level of expression in fat, proposing a role for adipose tissue in immune system biology.

mRNA turnover protein 4 homolog (MRTO4) is a member of the ribosomal protein L10P family. MRTO4 is a protein sharing a low level of sequence similarity with ribosomal protein P0. Though the precise function of the MRTO4 is presently unknown, it seems to be involved in mRNA turnover and ribosome assembly. MRTO4 is a nucleolar component of the ribosome assembly apparatus which shares remarkable similarity and contends for binding to the 25S rRNA GAR domain with the ribosomal protein P0. The MRTO4 gene is located on human chromosome 1, which extends over 260 million base pairs, is comprised of over 3,000 genes and contains approximately 8% of the human genome.

NANOG is a multidomain homeobox transcription factor which functions to maintain the undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells. NANOG expression counteracts the differentiation-promoting signals induced by the extrinsic factors LIF, Stat3 and BMP. Once NANOG expression is downregulated, cell differentiation can proceed. Proteins which regulate NANOG expression include transcription factors Oct4, SOX2, FoxD3, and Tcf3 and tumor suppressor p53.

ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 9 (ARL9) is a member of to 2 novel subfamilies coding for small GTPases that were found to be highly conserved among eukaryotes.

Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein 1 (PGLYRP1) is a member of the N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase 2 family. PGLYRP1 binds to peptidoglycan of bacteria and affects the peptidoglycan biosynthesis. PGLYRP1 displays bactericidal activity towards Gram-positive bacteria and is bacteriostatic towards Gram-negative bacteria. PGLYRP1 has a role in innate immunity. PGLYRP1 is highly expressed in the bone marrow, and weakly expressed in the kidney, liver, small intestine, spleen, thymus, peripheral leukocyte, lung, fetal spleen and neutrophils.

Pro-opiomelanocortin preproprotein (POMC) is a polypeptide hormone precursor which experiences extensive, tissue-specific, post-translational processing via cleavage by subtilisin-like enzymes known as prohormone convertases. POMC regulates the corticosteroid production in the adrenal cortex. Furthermore, POMC is cleaved into ten hormone chains named NPP, g-MSH, ACTH, a-MSH, CLIP, Lipotropin b, Lipotropin g, b-MSH,b endorphin and Met-enkephalin. POMC gene defects are the cause of POMC deficiency, which is characterized by red hair and adrenal insufficiency.

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 the GCSF 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.

TPRKB is a member of the CGI121/TPRKB family. TPRKB is localized to nucleus and cytoplasm and is ubiquitously expressed. TPRKB is known to cooperate with TP53RK/PRPK.

GRAP2 belongs to the GRB2/Sem5/Drk family. GRAP2 is an adaptor-like protein has a part in leukocyte-specific protein-tyrosine kinase signaling. Similar to related family member, GRB2-related adaptor protein contains an SH2 domain flanked by two SH3 domains and it interacts with other proteins, for example GRB2-associated binding protein 1 (GAB1) and the SLP-76 leukocyte protein (LCP2), through its SH3 domains.

Recoverin is a member of the recoverin family of neuronal calcium sensors. Recoverin is a heterogeneously acylated calcium-binding and intracellular signal transduction 23kDa protein in the photoreceptor cells of retina. Recoverin contains four EF-hands, of which two bind Ca. Ca-induced extrusion of the acyl group from a hydrophobic cleft in the protein drives the translocation of recoverin from solution to the disc membrane. Recoverin may prolong the termination of the phototransduction cascade in the retina by blocking the phosphorylation of photo-activated rhodopsin. Recoverin plays a key role in the inhibition of rhodopsin kinase, a molecule that regulates the phosphorylation of rhodopsin. This in due course controls the ability of the eye to adapt to, and recover from, exposure to the presence of light. Recoverin is a detectable serologic protein that is expressed in patients with cancer-associated retinopathy, a paraneoplastic syndrome.

Regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS4) is a protein which regulates G protein signaling. Regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) family members are regulatory molecules which act as GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) for G alpha subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. Heterotrimeric G proteins serve to convey information from cell surface receptors to intracellular effectors.

SARS Coronavirus is an enveloped virus containing three outer structural proteins, namely the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins. Spike (S)-glycoprotein of the virus interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to allow viral entry into susceptible target cells. Accordingly, S-protein plays an important role in virus infection cycle and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies.
It has recently been shown that SARS is caused by a human coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are the major cause of upper respiratory tract illness in humans, such as the common cold. Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses, featuring the largest viral RNA genomes known to date (27-31 kb). The first step in coronavirus infection is binding of the viral spike protein, a 139-kDa protein, to certain receptors on host cells. The spike protein is the main surface antigen of the coronavirus. The most prominent protein in the culture supernatants infected with SARS virus is a 46 kDa nucleocapsid protein. This suggests that the nucleocapsid protein is a major immunogen that may be useful for early diagnostics.

S100A1 is a member of the S100 family of calcium binding proteins with EF-hand type Ca+2 binding motive. S100A1 (Calcium Binding Protein A1) is involved in the activation of sarcoplasmatic calcium release and the regulation of intermediate filament polymerization. S100A1 may function in stimulation of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release, inhibition of microtubule assembly, and inhibition of protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation. Reduced expression of S100A1 has been implicated in cardiomyopathies.
S100 proteins are localized either in the cytoplasm or the nucleus of a wide range of cells. There are at least 13 members in the S100 gene family, which are located as a cluster on chromosome 1q21.

Midkine (MK) is the product of a retinoic acid responsive gene, MK, and is a member of a family of heparin binding factors. It contains 121 amino acid residues including 10 conserved cysteine residues, all of which appear to be disulphide linked.
Midkine is expressed during embryogenesis, showing an expression pattern that suggests functions in neurogenesis, cell migration, secondary organogenetic induction, and mesoderm-epithelial interaction.
The widespread downregulation of MK in the adult human is reverted in a number of cancers, in which polypeptides are able to act as both transforming growth factors and promoters of angiogenesis.
Midkine (MK), induces chemotaxis of human neutrophils and was found to trigger mobilization of intracellular calcium of these cells.
Midkine induces histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells with a rapid response in a dose dependent manner.
Midkine is also a potent stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

Sterile Alpha Motif Domain Containing 13 (SAMD13) is a putative protein interaction module which is present in various proteins involved in numerous biological processes. SAMD13 contains one SAM (sterile alpha motif) domain. The SAM domain, which spreads over around 70 residues, is found in various eukaryotic organisms. SAM domains are known to homo- and hetero-oligomerise, forming multiple self-association constructions and also binding to various non-SAM domain-containing proteins, however with a low affinity constant.

Modulator of apoptosis 1 (MOAP1), is a member of the PNMA family and contains one BH3-like domain and one RASSF1-binding domain. MOAP1 was recognized by its interaction with apoptosis regulator BAX protein. MOAP1 includes a Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3)-like motif, which is essential for the association with BAX. In addition, once over expressed MOAP1 mediates caspase-dependent apoptosis.

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.

E-selectin (SELE) is a part of a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. E-selectin is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and mediates the interaction of leukocytes and platelets with endothelial cells during an inflammatory response. E-selectin is present in single copy in the human genome and contains 14 exons spanning about 13 kb of DNA.

DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 6 (DGCR6) shares homology with the Drosophila melanogaster gonadal protein, that participates in gonadal and germ cell development, and also with the gamma-1 subunit of human laminin. DGCR6 is involved in DiGeorge syndrome pathology and in schizophrenia.

NCS1 is part of the neuronal calcium sensor gene family, which encode calcium-binding proteins expressed primarily in neurons. NCS1 regulates G protein-coupled receptor phosphorylation in a calcium-dependent manner and can substitute for calmodulin. NCS1 is related with secretory granules and modulates synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. NCS1 regulates GRK1 and substitutes for calmodulin. NCS1 stimulates PI4KB kinase activity and participates in long-term synaptic plasticity through its interaction with PICK1. NCS1 takes part in neuron differentiation through inhibition of the activity of N-type voltage-gated calcium channel.

Arfaptin 2 (ARFIP2) is a Rac1 binding protein essential for Rac-mediated actin polymerization and the succeeding formation of membrane ruffles and lamellipodia. ARFIP2 is a putative target protein of ADP-ribosylation factor. ARFIP2 is also involved in membrane ruffling. ARFIP2 expression is increased at sites of neurodegeneration. In addition, ARFIP2 interacts with the ADP ribosylation factor ARF6, a GTPase which associates with the plasma membrane and intracellular endosome vesicles, in a GTP dependent mode. Furthermore, Arfaptin 2 controls the aggregation of mutant Huntingtin protein by weakening proteasome function.

NFNB demonstrates the capability to reduce quinines. NFNB enzyme activates prodrugs in antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy. NFNB reduces nitrofurazone, quinones and anti-tumor agent CB1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide). The reduction of CB1954 results in the generation of cytotoxic species.

ASB13 belongs to the ankyrin repeat and SOCS box-containing (ASB) family of proteins which contains ankyrin repeat sequence and a SOCS box domain. ASB13 is a protein coding gene that plays a role as a substrate-recognition part of a SCF-like ECS E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex which arbitrates the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of target proteins.

SOD2 is part of the iron/manganese superoxide dismutase family. It encodes a mitochondrial protein that forms a homotetramer and binds one manganese ion per subunit. SOD2 binds to the superoxide byproducts of oxidative phosphorylation and converts them to hydrogen peroxide and diatomic oxygen. Mutations in SOD2 gene have been associated with idiopathic cardiomyopathy (IDC), premature aging, sporadic motor neuron disease, and cancer. SOD2 destroys radicals which are usually produced within the cells and which are toxic to biological systems.