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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.

UBL3 - a member of the ubiquitin-like family is found in the membrane. UBL3 holds two N-glycosylation sites, a C-terminal prenylation site and a protein kinase C phosphorylation site. Even though Ubiquitin-like proteins are not directly involved in protein degradation, it seems they have several mechanistic similarities to the ubiquitin pathway.

Calmodulin Like 3 (CALML3) is a member of the calmodulin family and contains 4 EF-hand domains. The CALML3 protein may be similar to that of genuine calmodulin and may in fact compete with calmodulin by binding, with different affinities, to cellular substrates. CALML3 protein is expressed in normal mammary, prostate, cervical, and epidermal tissues.

Recombinant Human Sonic Hedgehog is part of a small group of secreted proteins that are vital for development in both vertebrates and invertebrates. 3 mammalian hedgehog genes (sonic, desert, Indian) share about 60% homology. The Human Sonic Hedgehog is 99% homologous to the mouse gene. Sonic HedgeHog is a protein that is vital in guding the early embryo. It has been associated as the major inductive signal in patterning of the ventral neural tube, the anterior-posterior limb axis, and the ventral somites. Sonic HedgeHog binds to the patched receptor, which functions in association with smoothened, to activate the transcription of target genes. In the absence of sonic HedgeHog, patched receptor represses the constitutive signaling activity of smoothened. Sonic HedgeHog also regulates another factor, the gli oncogene. Sonic HedgeHog intercellular signal is essential for a various patterning events during development: signal produced by the notochord that induces ventral cell fate in the neural tube and somites, and the polarizing signal for patterning of the anterior-posterior axis of the developing limb bud. Sonic HedgeHog exhibits both floor plate- and motor neuron-inducing activity. Mutations in a long-range Sonic HedgeHog enhancer located in an intron of the limb region 1 gene result in preaxial polydactyly.

RAD1 is part of a heterotrimeric cell cycle checkpoint complex, recognized as the 9-1-1 complex, that is activated to stop cell cycle progression in reaction to DNA damage or incomplete DNA replication. RAD1 complex withholds the Rad9 and Hus1 proteins and takes part in cellular responses to DNA damage, by associating with Rad17 and several components of the PCNA-loading heteropentamer, replication factor C. RAD1 takes part in DNA repair and recruited to DNA lesion upon damage by the RAD17-replication factor C (RFC) clamp loader complex. RAD1 takes part as a sliding clamp platform on DNA for several proteins that play a role in long-patch base excision repair (LP-BER). RAD1 complex stimulates DNA polymerase beta (POLB) activity by raising its affinity for the 3''-OH end of the primer-template and stabilizes POLB to those sites where LP-BER proceeds.

Tropic 1808 is a candidate chemotropic factor induced by nerve injury. Tpc1808 protein, similar to NGF, could promote the expression of NF-H in a time-dependent manner. Tpc1808 is the gene related to promotion of nerve growth, and both the Tpc1808 gene and the Tpc1808 recombinant protein up-regulate the expression of NF-H in PC12 cells.

APOA1 (Apolipoprotein A-1) is a human protein with a specific role in lipid metabolism being the main protein component of HDL in the plasma. APOA1 promotes cholesterol efflux from tissues to the liver for excretion. Furthermore, APOA1 is a cofactor for LCAT, which is responsible for the formation of most plasma cholesteryl esters. In addition, APOA1 activates spermatozoa motility as part of the SPAP complex. The APOA1 gene is strongly linked with two other apolipoprotein genes on chromosome 11. Defects in the APOA1 gene are linked to HDL deficiency including Tangier disease, and with systemic non-neuropathic amyloidosis. High levels of APOA1 are linked to the manifestation of asthma and atopy.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also called macrophage inflammatory protein 2-alpha (MIP2-alpha), Growth-regulated protein beta (Gro-beta) and Gro oncogene-2 (Gro-2). CXCL2 is 90% identical in amino acid sequence as a related chemokine, CXCL1. This chemokine is secreted by monocytes and macrophages and is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and hematopoietic stem cells. The gene for CXCL2 is located on human chromosome 4 in a cluster of other CXC chemokines. CXCL2 mobilizes cells by interacting with a cell surface chemokine receptor called CXCR2.

RPL23A is a ribosomal protein which is a component of the 60S subunit. Ribosomes, the organelles which catalyze protein synthesis, consist of a small 40S subunit and a large 60S subunit. Together these subunits are composed of 4 RNA species and approximately 80 structurally different proteins. RPL23A is a member of the L23P family of ribosomal proteins. It is located in the cytoplasm. Recombinant Human Ribosomal Protein L23A may be one of the target molecules involved in mediating growth inhibition. The corresponding protein binds to a specific site on the 26S rRNA in yeast.

Vaspin (visceral adipose-specific SERPIN), a newly identified adipokine, which is a member of serine protease inhibitor family. Vaspin is also a unique insulin sensitizing adipocytokine in obesity. A recent publication indicates that induction of human vaspin mRNA expression in adipose tissue is regulated in a fat depot-specific manner and could be associated with parameters of obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism.

Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) is a proteoglycan secreted by endothelial cells (mostly in the human lung and kidney tissues) and its mRNA expression is regulated by inflammatory cytokines. ESM1 has potent implications in lung endothelial cell-leukocyte interactions. In addition, ESM1 expression is detected in various epithelia and in adipocytes. ESM1 is involved in angiogenesis and it also promotes angiogenic sprouting. ESM1 expression is upregulated by TNF alpha, IL1 beta, or lipopolysaccharide and downregulated by IFN gamma. Genetically engineered cells overexpressing ESM1 induce tumor formation, implying that ESM1 might be involved in the pathophysiology of tumor growth in vivo.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11A or TNFRSF11A or RANK, is a protein, part of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) group of proteins. RANK acts as the receptor of RANK-Ligand and regulates osteoclast activation & differentiation. RANK protein has been linked to activation of NF-kappa B & c-jun N-terminal kinase, enhancement of T cell growth, bone remodeling and repair, dendritic cell function, lymph node development, immune cell function, mammary gland development & thermal regulation.

Ara h 2 comprises of 2 isoforms: Ara h 2.0101 and Ara h 2.0201. Ara h 2.0201 is the most important peanut allergen which binds IgE. Ara h 2.0201 is a Weak inhibitor of trypsin and is a conglutin storage protein which accounts together with Ara h 6.0101 for the majority of the IgE immune response.

STARD5 is a member of the STARD family of proteins. This family of proteins has 15 different members, all of which hold the distinctive START domain and have a vital part in the metabolism and transport of lipids. The STARD family of proteins has six subfamilies based on their START domain sequences. STARD5 constitute one subfamily, sharing approximately 30% amino acid identity with each other. Even though STARD5 is not sterol-regulated it is induced by endomplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

MGAT2 is an enzyme which takes part in the catalyzation of a crucial step in the reaction of oligomannose which converts to complex N-glycans. MGAT2 has three domains, classic to glycosyltransferase: short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain, a C-terminal catalytic domain and hydrophobic non-cleavable signal-anchor domain. The enzyme MGAT2 is encoded by the MGAT2 gene in humans. There are no introns in the DNA coding the gene, therefore mutations in the MGAT2 will result in carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome, type II.

TRAF Family Member-Associated NFKB Activator (TANK) is located in the cytoplasm and binds Either TRAF1, TRAF2 or TRAF3. TANK is an inhibitor of TRAF function which regulates TRAF protein activity via sequestering TRAFs in a dormant position in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of TANK, inhibits TRAF2-mediated NF-Kappa-B activation signaled by CD40 and both TNF receptors and also inhibits LMP1-mediated NFkappa-B activation by blocking the connection of TRAF2 with LMP1.

Proteasome subunit alpha type-5 (PSMA5) is a member of the peptidase T1A family. The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex which is distinguished by its ability to cleave peptides with Arg, Phe, Tyr, Leu, and Glu adjacent to the leaving group at neutral or slightly basic pH. Proteasomes are spread throughout eukaryotic cells at a high concentration and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent process in a non-lysosomal pathway. PSMA5 interacts with PLK1. The PSMA5 peptidase has a very wide-ranging specificity for cleavage of peptide bonds.

KLRC3 belongs to the NKG2 group that can be found mostly in natural killer (NK) cells and encodes a family of transmembrane proteins known for their C-type lectin domain and their type II membrane orientation (extracellular C terminus). The NKG2 gene family is situated inside the NK complex, a region which has quite a few C-type lectin genes mostly expressed on NK cells.

TIGAR is a p53-inducible enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of fructose-2-6 bisphosphate (F-2-6-BP) to fructose-6-phosphate and inorganic phosphate. F-2-6-BP is an influential activator of 6-phosphofructose-1 kinase (the rate limiting enzyme of glycolysis). By lowering the intracellular level of F-2-6-BP, TIGAR expression leads to increased glucose processing through the pentose phosphate pathway, the main cellular source for NADPH.

Cellular Repressor of E1A-Stimulated Genes 1 (CREG1) both activates and inhibits gene expression to stimulate cellular proliferation and hinder differentiation. CREG1 antagonizes transcriptional activation and cellular transformation by E1A. CREG1 shares partial sequence similarity with E1A and binds both the general transcription factor TBP and the tumor suppressor pRb in vitro. CREG1 contributes to the transcriptional control of cell growth and differentiation.

PAK4 is part of the group B family of p21-activated kinases (PAK). It's known as an effector protein for cell division cycle 42(Cdc42) and protein that plays an important role in regulating cytoskeletal organization and cell morphology. PAK4 expression is eminent in many cancer cell lines, and is involved in tumorigenesis. PAK proteins are significant effectors that associate Rho GTPases to cytoskeleton reorganization and nuclear signaling. PAK proteins are targets for the small GTP binding proteins Cdc42 and Rac and have been implicated in a wide range of biological activities. PAK4 cooperates specifically with the GTP-bound form of Cdc42Hs and weakly activates the JNK family of MAP kinases. PAK4 is a mediator of filopodia formation and is involved in the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. PAK4 activates the JNK pathway. PAK4 phosphorylates and inactivates the protein phosphatase SSH1, leading to increased inhibitory phosphorylation of the actin binding/depolymerizing factor cofilin. Decreased cofilin activity may lead to stabilization of actin filaments.

Sorcin (SRI) which is a 22kDa calcium-binding protein was originally identified in multidrug-resistant cells. Sorcin, which modulates excitation-contraction coupling in the heart, contributes to calcium homeostasis in the heart sarcoplasmic reticulum.

TIPIN is a member of the CSM3 family. TIPIN protein is essential for normal advancement of S-phase and vital for cell existence after DNA damage or replication stress. TIPIN is specifically necessary for the ATR - CHEK1 pathway in the replication checkpoint induced by ultraviolet light.

CDC34 is important in the control of cell cycle and DNA replication. Cdc34 in association with different E3 complexes, including SCF, has been shown to target many different substrates for ubiquitination and degradation during cell division, signal transduction, and development. Cdc34 substrates that have been characterized include I?B, B-Myb, Wee1, MyoD, ICERII?, ATF5, p27Xic1, and p27Kip1. Additionally, substrates such as ?-catenin, p21Cip1, E2F, cyclin E, and cyclin D are putative substrates of Cdc34 by virtue of their SCF requirement for proteolysis. Cdc34 has been demonstrated to self-associate through a domain in the C-terminus, and is phosphorylated and ubiquitinylated in vivo. This protein is useful for in vitro ubiquitinylation reactions.