Search results

Cathepsin F (CTSF) is a member of the peptidase C1 family. Cathepsins are papain family cysteine proteinases which are a main component of the lysosomal proteolytic system. The CTSF gene is ubiquitously expressed, and it maps to chromosome 11q13, close to the gene encoding cathepsin W. CTSF plays a role in normal protein catabolism. CTSF is involved in some degradative processes occurring in tumor progression since it is highly expressed in some cancer cell lines.

Gamma-SNAP (NAPG) is a cytoplasmic protein which binds to a membrane receptor complex composed of VAMP, SNAP25 and syntaxin. NAPG mediates the membrane binding of NSF, which is crucial for membrane fusion reactions. NSF and SNAPs seem to be general components of the intracellular membrane fusion system, and their action at specific sites of fusion needs be controlled by SNAP receptors specific to the membranes being fused. NAPG mediates platelet exocytosis and controls the membrane fusion events of this process.

Human HSP40 (heat shock protein with molecular size of 40kDa) is one of the mammalian homologues of bacterial DnaJ heat shock protein and regulates cellular processes by aiding in the folding, transport and assembly. HSP40 protein contains the J-domain which controls interaction with the ATPase domain of DnaK.

HSPA8 is part of the heat shock protein 70 family which includes both heat-inducible and constitutively expressed proteins (heat-shock cognate proteins). HSPA8 is a heat-shock cognate protein that binds to nascent polypeptides to facilitate correct folding. HSPA8 plays a role as an ATPase in the disassembly of clathrin-coated vesicles through transport of membrane components through the cell. HSPA8 is expressed in colon cancer cells, HSPA8 takes part in reovirus outer capsid disassembly, through membrane penetration, to plan the entering particle for gene expression and replication. serum HSPA8 concentrations are reduced in normal human pregnancy. HSPA8 plays a role in androgen action on dermal papilla cells. HSPA8 is directly linked with Influenza virus matrix protein 1 and thus required for viral production.

Norrie Disease (NDP) is a secreted regulatory protein which activates the canonical Wnt signaling pathway through FZD4 and LRP5 coreceptor. NDP takes part in retinal vascularization by acting as a ligand for FZD4 which signals through stabilizing beta-catenin (CTNNB1) and activating LEF/TCF-mediated transcriptional programs. NDP is involved in a pathway that regulates neural cell differentiation and proliferation and also in neuroectodermal cell-cell interaction.

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.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 16 (NGFR) BELONGS TO the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily with an extensive pattern of expression in tissues such as the brain, liver, lung, and muscle. NGFR has a role in the regulation of the translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface in adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells in response to insulin, possibly by regulating RAB31 activity, and thus contributes to the regulation of insulin-dependent glucose uptake. NGFRs are low affinity receptors which can bind to NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4. NGFR mediates cell survival as well as cell death of neural cells.

NFKB inhibitor interacting Ras-like 2 (NKIRAS2) is an inhibitor of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. NKIRAS2 is similar to the Ras-like small GTPases which associate with IkappaB. The Ras-like proteins- NKIRAS1 and NKIRAS2, interact with the PEST domains of I?B? and I?B? and reduce their rate of degradation. NKIRAS2 is an atypical Ras-like protein which functions as a potent regulator of NF-kappa-B activity by preventing the degradation of NF-kappa-B inhibitor beta (NFKBIB) by most signals, explaining why NFKBIB is more impervious to degradation.

Intrinsic Factor is a member of the cobalamin transport protein family. It encodes a glycoprotein secreted by parietal cells of the gastric mucosa and is required for adequate absorption of vitamin B12 in the terminal ileum. Vitamin B12 is essential for erythrocyte maturation and mutations in the Intrinsic Factor may lead to congenital pernicious anemia. Upon entry into the stomach, vitamin B12 binds to one of two B12 binding proteins present in the gastric fluid. In the less acidic environment of the small intestine, these proteins dissociate from the vitamin, allowing it to bind to intrinsic factor and enter the portal circulation through a receptor in the ileal mucosa specific for the B12-intrinsic factor complex.

EDA2R (ectodysplasin A2 receptor) mediates the activation of the NF-kappa-B and JNK pathways. Activation seems to be mediated through binding to TRAF3 and TRAF6. In addition, Mutations in EDA give rise to a clinical syndrome characterized by loss of hair, sweat glands, and teeth. EDA2R specifically binds to EDA-A2 isoform. This protein is a type III transmembrane protein of the TNFR (tumor necrosis factor receptor) superfamily, and contains 3 cysteine-rich repeats and a single transmembrane domain however it lacks an N-terminal signal peptide. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene. Among the diseases associated with EDA2R are ectodermal dysplasia 1, hypohidrotic, x-linked, and hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.

ST6GAL1 also known as ST6 Beta-Galactosamide Alpha-2,6-Sialyltranferase 1, is part of the glycosyltransferase family 29. ST6GAL1 is a type II membrane protein which catalyzes the transfer of sialic acid from CMP-sialic acid to galactose-containing substrates. Furthermore, ST6GAL1 is normally found in the Golgi however it can be proteolytically processed to a soluble form, ST6GAL1 is also involved in the generation of the cell-surface carbohydrate determinants as well differentiation antigens HB-6, CD75, and CD76.

SUMO1 is a protein that belongs to the SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) protein family. SUMO1 functions in a manner similar to ubiquitin in that it is bound to target proteins as part of a post-translational modification system. Still, unlike ubiquitin which targets proteins for degradation, SUMO1 is involved in a variety of cellular processes, for example nuclear transport, transcriptional regulation, apoptosis, and protein stability. SUMO1 is not active until the last four amino acids of the carboxy-terminus are cleaved off.

BTF3L4 is a part of the NAC-beta family which contains 1 NAC-A/B (NAC-alpha/beta) domain and required for the initiation of transcription. BTF3L4 binds to polypeptide chains as they emerge from the ribosome and prevents their interaction with the SRP, which usually targets nascent secretory peptides to the ER. BTF3 is also a general transcription factor which forms a stable complex with RNA polymerase II.

Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) acts as a transcription factor and takes part in the initiation of neuronal differentiation. TCF4 recognizes an Ephrussi-box ('E-box') binding site ('CANNTG') - a motif primary identified in immunoglobulin enhancers. TCF4 is mainly expressed in pre-B-cells, even though it is present in other tissues as well.

CBX1 is an enriched heterochromatin which belongs to the heterochromatin protein family. The centromeres related CBX1 identifies and binds histone H3 tails methylated at 'Lys-9', causing epigenetic repression. Collaboration with lamin B receptor (LBR) can impact the relations between the heterochromatin and the inner nuclear membrane. CBX1 has a vital part in the epigenetic control of chromatin structure and gene expression.

Celiac disease is an enteropathy that is characterized by intestinal lesions of variable severity. Tissue-type transglutaminase (tTG) is believed to be the predominant autoantigen for celiac disease and the corresponding autoantibodies show higher sensitivity and specificity than anti-gliadin antibodies. Highly pure recombinant human tTG is now available to replace the traditionally used tTG fraction from guinea pig.
Tissue-type transglutaminase antigens have been specifically modified for improved handling: exchange of an active site amino acid eliminates the protein cross-linking activity of the enzyme, while maintaining the native three-dimensional structure and the enzyme's secondary GTPase activity. This engineering assures reproducible properties of the antigen preparations through the absence of variable and ill-defined covalent aggregates of tTG antigen and host cell proteins.

Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and is a member of a group of cytokines that all stimulate the acute phase reaction. TNF is mainly secreted by macrophages.
TNF causes apoptotic cell death, cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumorigenesis and viral replication, TNF is also involved in lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF's primary role is in the regulation of immune cells.
Dysregulation and, in particular, overproduction of TNF have been implicated in a variety of human diseases- autoimmune diseases, insulin resistance, and cancer.

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor is a growth factor and/or cytokine produced by the endothelium, macrophages and a number of other immune cells. GCSF stimulates the bone marrow to produce granulocytes and also to stimulate the survival, proliferation, differentiation and function of neutrophil granulocyte progenator cells and mature neutrophils.

GDP Dissociation Inhibitor 1 (GDI1) is expressed mainly in neural and sensory tissues. GDI1 regulates the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of nearly all Rab proteins by inhibiting the dissociation of GDP from them, and the subsequent binding of GTP to them. GDI1 is also promoting the dissociation of GDP-bound Rab proteins from the membrane and inhibits their activation. Mutations in GDI1 have been associated with X-linked nonspecific mental retardation.

TSG101 is a member of apparently inactive homologs of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes. TSG101 contains a coiled-coil domain that interacts with stathmin, a cytosolic phosphoprotein implicated in tumorigenesis. TSG101 is involved in cell growth and differentiation and acts as a negative growth regulator. TSG101 in vitro steady-state expression is important for maintenance of genomic stability and cell cycle regulation. TSG101 mutations and alternative splicing occur in high rate in breast cancer and implicate that defects occur during breast cancer tumorigenesis and/or progression. TSG101 is a factor of the ESCRT-I complex, a monitor of vesicular trafficking process. TSG101 binds to ubiquitinated cargo proteins and is needed for the sorting of endocytic ubiquitinated cargos into multivesicular bodies. TSG101 is needed for completion of cytokinesis and is involved in cell growth and differentiation.

Galectin-3 mediates with the alpha-3, beta-1 integrin the stimulation by cspg4 of endothelial cells migration. Galectin-3 plays an necessary part during the acquisition of vasculogenic mimicry and angiogenic properties associated with melanoma progression. LGALS3 overexpression is highly expressed in early stages of papillary carcinoma, and its expression intensity declines during tumor progression. Serum levels of LGALS3 are high in patients with thyroid malignancy but there is considerable overlap in serum LGALS3 concentrations between those with benign and malignant nodular thyroid disease. LGLAS3 takes part as an immune regulator to inhibit T-cell immune responses and promote tumor growth, as a result providing a new mechanism for tumor immune tolerance.

PSG5 belongs to the PSG family, which are a highly connected group of secreted glycoproteins, vastly expressed in fetal placental syncytiotrophoblast cells. PSGs are can be found in serum from the first 2-3 weeks of pregnancy and at higher levels as the pregnancy progresses, up to e point where they are the highest fetal protein found in maternal blood at term. PSG5’s role is inducing secretion of TH2-type cytokines from monocytes and modulating the maternal immune system throughout the pregnancy, thus defending the semi-allotypic fetus from rejection.

RANGRF is a protein which acts as a guanine nucleotide release factor in mouse and regulates the expression and function of the Nav1.5 cardiac sodium channel in human. RANGRF also controls the intracellular trafficking of RAN. In cardiac cells, the RANGRF appears to regulate the cell surface localization of SCN5A.

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, dendritic cells and on trophoblast cells. The flt-1 gene was first described in 1990. The receptor contains seven immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains, a single transmembrane region and an intracellular splited tyrosine kinase domain. Compared to VEGFR-2 the Flt-1 receptor has a higher affinity for VEGF but a weaker signaling activity. VEGFR-1 thus leads not to proliferation of endothelial cells, but mediates signals for differentiation. Interestingly a naturally occuring soluble variant of VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1) was found in HUVE supernatants in 1996, which is generated by alternative splicing of the flt-1 mRNA. The biological functions of sVEGFR-1 still are not clear, but it seems to be an endogenous regulator of angiogenesis, binding VEGF with the same affinity as the full-length receptor.