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Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 2 (SDF2) is a secretory protein which is partly similar to the hydrophilic segments of yeast mannosyltransferases. SDF2 protein’s expression is ubiquitous and the gene is rather conserved among mammals. SDF2is a protein-coding gene whose alternative splicing results in coding and non-coding variants.

TRAIL Receptor-3, also known as TNFRSF10C belongs to theTNF-receptor super family. TNFRSF10C contains an extracellular TRAIL-binding domain as well as a transmembranedomain, however no cytoplasmic death domain. Furthermore, TNFRSF10C is not capable of inducing apoptosis, and is considered toact as an antagonistic receptor which protects cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Thioredoxins are small disulphide-containing redox proteins (within the conserved Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys active site) that have been found in all the kingdoms of living organisms. Thioredoxin contains a single disulfide active site and serves as a general protein disulphide oxidoreductase. Thioredoxins are involved in the first unique step in DNA synthesis. It interacts with a broad range of proteins by a redox mechanism based on reversible oxidation of two cysteine thiol groups to a disulphide, accompanied by the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The net result is the covalent interconversion of a disulphide and a dithiol. It has been suggested that thioredoxin may catalyze the formation of correct disulfides during protein folding because of its ability to act as an efficient oxidoreductant. Trx also provides control over a number of transcription factors affecting cell proliferation and death through a mechanism referred to as redox regulation.

GDF-5 is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. Mutations in this gene are associated with acromesomelic dysplasia, Hunter-Thompson type; brachydactyly, type C; and chondrodysplasia, Grebe type. These associations confirm that the gene product plays a role in skeletal development.

Excess adiposity is the most important risk in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipose tissue produces several proteins (adipocytokines) such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6, that modulate insulin sensitivity and appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms by which fat tissue induces insulin resistance and the role of adipocytokines in the pathogenesis of T2DM have not been well established. Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and was originally isolated as a secreted factor that synergizes with IL-7 and stem cell factors to promote the growth of B cell precursors. Visfatin homologs have been identified in carp, invertebrate mollusks, and bacteria, as well as in vertebrates, including humans and the mouse. It h

Thrombopoietin is a glycoprotein hormone produced mainly by the liver and the kidneyt hat regulates the production of platelets by the bone marrow. It stimulates the production and differentiation of megakaryocytes, the bone marrow cells that fragment into large numbers of platelets.

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.

EPGN is an EGF-related polypeptide growth factor that signals through the ErbB receptor-1. EPGN is produced in numerous tissues, including the testis, liver, heart and in certain tumor cells. EPGN is mitogenic for fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Human EPGN is originally synthesized as a glycosylated 14.7 kDa transmembrane precursor protein, which is processed by proteolytic cleavage to produce a mature soluble sequence.

SIL1 is localized to endoplasmic reticulum (ER). SIL1 is an N-linked glycoprotein with an N-terminal ER targeting sequence, 2 putative N-glycosylation sites, and a C-terminal ER retention signal. SIL1 acts as a nucleotide exchange factor for another unfolded protein response protein. Mutations in SIL1 are linked to Marinesco-Sjogren syndrome.

POU2AF1 is a lymphocyte specific transcription coactivator protein. POU2AF1 cooperates only with the Oct1/2 proteins using sub domains in the POU domain of the Oct1/2 proteins, increasing their transcriptional efficiency. Even though POU2AF1 have no basic ability to bind DNA, it links firmly with the octomer motif in the presence of Oct1 and Oct2. POU2AF1 is expressed at maximum levels in spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes.

Succinate Dehydrogenase Complex Assembly Factor 2 (SDHAF2) is a mitochondrial protein required for the flavination of a succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit essential for activity of the complex. DHAF2 is necessary for insertion of FAD cofactor into SDHA, the catalytic subunit of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). SDH is involved in complex II of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and is responsible for transferring electrons from succinate to ubiquinone (coenzyme Q). SDHAF2 gene defects are the cause of hereditary paragangliomas type 2 (PGL2), otherwise known as familial non-chromaffin paragangliomas type 2.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) comprise a family of at least eighteen structurally related proteins that are involved in a multitude of physiological and pathological cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, angiogenesis, wound healing and tumorgenesis. The biological activities of the FGFs are mediated by a family of type I transmembrane tyrosine kinases which undergo dimerization and autophosphorylation after ligand binding. Four distinct genes encoding closely related FGF receptors, FGF R1 - 4, are known. All four genes for FGF Rs encode proteins with an N-terminal signal peptide, three immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains, an acid-box region containing a run of acidic residues between the IgI and IgII domains, a transmembrane domain and the split tyrosine-kinase domain. Multiple forms of FGF R1 - 3 are generated by alternative splicing of the mRNAs. A frequent splicing event involving FGF R1 and 2 results in receptors containing all three Ig domains, referred to as the a isoform, or only IgII and IgIII, referred to as the b isoform. Only the a isoform has been identified for FGF R3 and FGF R4. Additional splicing events for FGF R1 - 3, involving the C-terminal half of the IgIII domain encoded by two mutually exclusive alternative exons, generate FGF receptors with alternative IgIII domains (IIIb and IIIc). A IIIa isoform which is a secreted FGF binding protein containing only the N-terminal half of the IgIII domain plus some intron sequences has also been reported for FGF R1. Mutations in FGF R1 - 3 have been found in patients with birth defects involving craniosynostosis. The complex patterns of expression of these receptors as well as the specificity of their interactions with the various FGF ligand family members are under investigation.

Pleiotrophin (Osteoblast-Specific Factor-1, OSF-1) contains 136 amino acid residues. The sequence is very rich in cationic amino acids (24% of the residues); lysine cluster sequences are found in the N-terminal and C-terminal ends of the structure.
The OSF-1 gene was shown by Northern blotting analysis to be expressed in mouse calvarial osteoblast-enriched cells and in mouse brain tissues, but not in thymus, spleen, kidney, liver, lung, testis or heart. Pleiotrophin has the ability to promote adhesion, migration, expansion, and differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells. In addition to certain types of cancer, the embryonic growth and differentiation factor pleiotrophin is found also in adults in inflammatory diseases. In osteoarthritis, pleiotrophin is especially expressed in early stages, and its concentrations in the synovial fluid could serve as a marker for the progress of the disease. Pleitrophin might be involved in cartilage repair in osteoarthritis, in particular, in earlier stages.

Fibroblast Growth Factor Binding Protein 1, also known as FGFBP1 is a secreted fibroblast growth factor carrier protein. FGFBP1 plays a vital part in cell proliferation, differentiation and migration by binding to fibroblast growth factors and potentiating their biological effects on target cells. In addition, FGFBP1 also takes part in tumor growth as an angiogenic switch molecule, furthermore an expression of FGFBP1 has been associated with more than a few types of cancer as well as pancreatic and colorectal adenocarcinoma.

ASF1 Anti-Silencing Function 1 Homolog B (ASF1B) belongs to the H3/H4 family of histone chaperone proteins and is similar to the anti-silencing function-1 protein in yeast. ASF1B is the substrate of the tousled-like kinase family of cell cycle-regulated kinases, and may have a crucial role in modulating the nucleosome structure of chromatin by guaranteeing a regular supply of histones at sites of nucleosome assembly. ASF1B cooperates with CAF-1 (chromatin assembly factor 1) to stimulate replication-dependent chromatin assembly. ASF1B is highly expressed in the testis and at lower levels in colon, small intestine and thymus. ASF1B is necessary for spermatogenesis.

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.

Neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein which functions as a co-receptor for several extracellular ligands including class III/IV semaphorins, some isoforms of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor beta. Nrp1 binds vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and is believed to serve as a coreceptor for kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) by connecting with KDR and enhancing VEGF signaling. Nrp1 is a marker of regulatory T cells.

NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 alpha subcomplex assembly factor 4 (NDUFAF4) is involved in the compilation of mitochondrial NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex (complex I). In addition, NDUFAF4 is involved in cell proliferation and survival of hormone-dependent tumor cells. NDUFAF4 may also be a regulator of breast tumor cell invasion. NDUFAF4 gene mutations cause the mitochondrial complex I deficiency.

Tryptase alpha/beta-1 (TPSAB1) is a tryptase which is the key neutral protease present in mast cells and is discharged upon the coupled activation-degranulation response of this cell type. TPSAB1 is enzymatically active only as a heparin-stabilized tetramer, and is resistant to all known endogenous proteinase inhibitors. TPSAB1 is implicated as a mediator in the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic and inflammatory disorders.

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 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.

TBCEL, is a factor that is in charge of the microtubule cytoskeleton in determining cell behavior. TBCEL plays a role as a regulator of tubulin stability. While widely expressed in testis, TBCEL is also present in several tissues at a much lower level. TBCEL comprises of seven LRR (leucine-rich) repeats, one LRRCT domain and one ubiquitin-like domain. The gene that translates TBCEL consists of 66,704 bases and maps to human chromosome 11q23.3. Chromosome 11 houses over 1,400 genes and consist of nearly 4% of the human genome. Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, Jacobsen syndrome, Niemann-Pick disease, hereditary angioedema and Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome are associated with defects in genes that map to chromosome 11.