Search results

Neuroblastoma suppressor of tumorigenicity 1 (NBL1) is a part of the evolutionarily conserved CAN (Cerberus and DAN) family of proteins, which contain a domain resembling the CTCK (C-terminal cystine knot-like) motif found in several signaling molecules. NBL1 is a is a tumor suppressor of neuroblastoma and takes part in preventing cells from entering the final stage (G1/S) of the transformation process. NBL1 is produced in small neurons of the dorsal root ganglion. The expression of NBL1 is triggered by MATH-1.

FAM84A is a member of the FAM84 family of proteins and is primarily expressed in testis. FAM84A is restricted to a subcellular membrane region in which there is no interaction between adjoining cells and takes part in cell morphology. Additionally, FAM84A expression increases cell motility which can result in invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. FAM84A is up-regulated in pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer lung cancer, bladder cancer tissues and cholangiocarcinoma.

OCIA domain-containing protein 2 (OCIAD2) is a protein-coding gene which localizes to endosomes and contains one Ovarian carcinoma immunoreactive antigen (OCIA) domain. Among the associated diseases with OCIAD2 are bronchiolo-alveolar adenocarcinoma, and ovarian mucinous neoplasm. OCIAD1 is an important paralog of this gene.

TRAPPC3 is a part of the TRAPP complex that takes part in connection of transport vesicles to the cis-Golgi membrane. Additionally, TRAPPC3 is involved in vesicular transport from endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi.

BECN1, Beclin-1 and autophagy-related gene (Atg) 6, is a member of the beclin family. BECN1 has a key role in autophagy and antiviral host defense. Beclin-1 and its binding partner class III phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), also named Vps34, are vital for the initiation of the formation of the autophagasome in autophagy. Also it is required for the abscission step of cytokinesis.

RHEB is part of the Ras & GTPase superfamily that was originally identified as an immediate-early gene in brain but is also widely expressed in other tissues. RHEB encodes a lipid-anchored, cell membrane protein with five repeats of the RAS-related GTP-binding region. RHEB is necessary in regulation of growth and cell cycle progression due to its role in the TOR/S6K signaling pathway. RHEB has GTPase activity and shuttles between a GDP-bound form and a GTP-bound form, and farnesylation of the protein is required for this activity. RHEB induces oncogenic transformation. RHEB overexpression accelerates lymphomagenesis and is associated with prostate cancer. RHEB can cytopathologically distinguish between fibroadenoma from malignant breast carcinomas which is considered as a secondary diagnostic tool. RHEB has a central role in the regulation of the Ras/B-Raf/C-Raf/MEK signaling network.

WW domain-binding protein 2 (WBP2) is a steroid hormone receptor coactivator, which contains 1 GRAM domain. The globular WW domain is comprised of 38-40 semiconserved amino acids shared by proteins of various functions including structural, regulatory, and signaling proteins. This domain is involved in mediating protein-protein interactions through the binding of polyproline ligands. WBP2 binds to the WW domain of Yes kinase-associated protein(YAP1) via its PY motifs.

TRAF1 is an adapter protein and signal transducer that connects members of the TNFR family to different signaling pathways by association with the receptor cytoplasmic domain and kinases. TRAF1 mediates activation of NF-kappa-B and JNK and participates in apoptosis. The TRAF1/TRAF2 complex recruits the apoptotic suppressors BIRC2 and BIRC3 to TNFRSF1B/TNFR2.

GNB3 belongs to the WD repeat G protein beta family. GNB3 is an important regulator of alpha subunit, as well as of certain signal transduction receptor and effector. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (C825T) in GNB3 is linked with essential hypertension and obesity. In addition, this polymorphism is also linked with the occurrence of the splice variant GNB3-s, which seems to have increased activity. GNB3-s is an example of alternative splicing caused by a nucleotide change outside of the splice donor and acceptor sites. Further splice variants may exist for GNB3, however they have not been fully described. Among the diseases associated with GNB3 are syncope, and aortic coarctation.

VSNL1 is a member of the visinin/recoverin subfamily of neuronal calcium sensor proteins. VILIP1 is strongly expressed in granule cells of the cerebellum where it associates with membranes in a calcium-dependent manner and modulates intracellular signaling pathways of the central nervous system by directly or indirectly regulating the activity of adenylyl cyclase. Changes in cellular expression of VSNL1 were found in hipppocampi of schizophrenics, since more interneurons showed immunoreactivity.
VILIP1 is expressed in pancreatic beta-cells. VILIP-1 interacts with cell membrane and actin-based cytoskeleton. VSNL1 modulates cAMP-accumulation in C6 glioma cells. HLP3 modulates cGMP-accumulation in transfected neural cells and cerebellar granule neurons.

WW Domain Containing Transcription Regulator 1 (WWTR1) is a transcriptional coactivator that plays a role as a downstream regulatory target in the Hippo signaling pathway which participates in organ size control and tumor suppression by restricting proliferation and promoting apoptosis. WWTR1 regulates the nuclear accumulation of SMADS and has a main part in coupling them to the transcriptional machinery like the mediator complex. WWTR1 is also regulates embryonic stem-cell self-renewal.

MRG-binding protein (MRGBP or C20ORF20) is a 204 amino acid protein which is a part of the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex that functions to acetylate histone H2A and H4. The HAT complex may be essential for the activation of transcriptional programs linked with oncogene and proto-oncogene mediated growth induction, tumor suppressor mediated growth arrest and replicative senescence, apoptosis, and DNA repair. C20ORF20 also has a potential to interact with MORF4L1/MRG15 and MORF4L2/MRGX.

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.

COMP is a non-collagenous glycoprotein and is belongs to the thrombospondin family of extracellular proteins. COMP is a calcium-binding protein of high molecular weight (>500kDa) found in the extracellular matrix of articular, nasal and tracheal cartilage. COMP is not only cartilage-derived but is common in other tissues, such as synovium and tendon. Intact COMP is pentameric, with 5 equal subunits and the carboxy-terminal globular domain of native COMP binds to collagens I, II, and IX. COMP molecules are vital for conserving the properties and integrity of collagen network. Moreover, COMP has a storage and delivery function for hydrophobic cellsignaling molecules such as vitamin D. Mutations of the COMP gene cause Pseudoachondroplasia and some forms of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia which implicates that it is vital that COMP develops and functions normally.

ANXA1 is part of the family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins which have a Mw between 35kDa-40kDa and are situated on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. ANXA1 protein has a Mw of 40kDa, with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity to bind from two to four calcium ions with high affinity. Since phospholipase A2 is necessary for the biosynthesis of the potent mediators of inflammation, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, ANXA1 might have potential anti-inflammatory activity. ANXA1 promotes membrane fusion and iplays a role in exocytosis. The recognition of ANXA1 protein by immunocytochemical leads a simple, highly sensitive and specific assay for diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), identified as one of the transcription factors, has been found to play an essential role in cellular and systemic oxygen homeostasis. HIF-1 is a heterodimer composed of HIF-1b subunit and one of three subunits (Hif-1a, Hif-2 (or Hif-3)). The activation of Hif-1 (is closely associated with a variety of tumors and oncogenic pathways. Hif-1 (consists of DNA binding domain (DBD domain), Dimerization domain and C-terminal regulatory domains, including two transactivation domains (TAD), an oxygen-dependent degradation (ODD) domain, and inhibitory domains. Under hypoxic conditions HIF1A activates the transcription of more than 40 genes, including, erythropoietin, glucose transporters, glycolytic enzymes, VEGF, and other genes whose protein products increase oxygen delivery or facilitate metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. HIF-1A also plays a crucial role in embryonic vascularization, tumor angiogenesis and pathophysiology of ischemic disease. It binds to core DNA sequence 5'-[AG]CGTG-3' within the hypoxia response element (HRE) of target gene promoters. Activation involves recruitment of transcriptional coactivators such as CREBPB and EP300. Its activity is improved by interaction with both, NCOA1 or NCOA2. Interaction with redox regulatory protein APEX appears to activate CTAD and potentiates activation by NCOA1 and CREBBP. The induction is under reduced oxygen tension. HIF1A is also induced by a variety of receptor-mediated factors such as growth factors, cytokines, and circulatory factors for example PDGF, EGF, FGF-2, IGF-2, TGF-1 beta, HGF, TNF alpha, IL-1 beta, angiotensin-2 and thrombin. Nevertheless, this induction is less intense than that stimulated by hypoxia.

FADD is an adaptor protein that cooperates with a variety of cell surface receptors and mediates cell apoptotic signals. Using its C-terminal death domain, FADD is recruited by TNFRSF6/Fas-receptor, tumor necrosis factor receptor, TNFRSF25, and TNFSF10/TRAIL-receptor, and consequently it take parts in the death signaling initiated by these receptors. FADD interaction with the receptors reviels the N-terminal effector domain of, which allows it to recruit caspase-8, and thus initiate the cysteine protease cascade. Knockout studies in mice furthermore propose the significance of FADD in premature T cell development. FADD plays a role in survival/proliferation and cell cycle development. FADD also takes part in cellular sublocalization, protein phosphorylation, and inhibitory molecules.

RAC1 is a GTPase which belongs to the RAS superfamily of small GTP-binding proteins. Members of this superfamily appear to regulate a diverse array of cellular events, including the control of cell growth, cytoskeletal reorganization, and the activation of protein kinases. RAC-1 regulates the actin cytoskeleton but also other cellular processes. RAC1 have been shown to be involved in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion.

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.

Prion protein (PRNP) is a ubiquitous membrane glycoprotein whose abnormal self-replicating, misfolded form is widely believed to cause several central nervous system disorders, together known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE). PRNP contains a highly unstable region of five tandem octapeptide repeat. Mutations in PRNP protein’s repeat region as well as elsewhere have been associated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, fatal familial insomnia, Gerstmann-Straussler disease, Huntington disease-like 1, and kuru.

CCL25 (Teck) is a novel CC chemokine, which is distantly related (about 20% amino acid sequence identity) to other CC chemokines. The mouse CCL25 cDNA has also been cloned and shown to encode a 144 a.a. protein, which exhibits 49% a.a. sequence identity to the human CCL25. Human and mouse CCL25 expression was shown to be greatly restricted to the thymus and small intestine. While dendritic cells are identified as the source of CCL25 production in the thymus, dendritic cells derived from bone marrow do not express CCL25. CCL25 signals through the CCR9 receptor. Teck is possibly involved in T-cell development.
Recombinant human and mouse Teck were shown to be chemotactic for activated macrophages, dendritic cells and thymocytes. The recombinant protein demonstrates chemotactic activity on thymocytes, macrophages, THP-1 cells, and dendritic cells but is inactive on peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

Crystallins are the main structural proteins of the vertebrate eye lens, where they maintain the transparency and refractive index of the lens. Crystallins are divided into 3 fprotein families, α, β, & γ families. Because lens central fiber cells lose their nuclei during development, these crystallins are prepared and then retained throughout life, making them extremely stable proteins. CRYBB1 is a beta basic group member and undergoes extensive cleavage at its N-terminal extension during lens maturation.

Cartilage-associated protein (CRTAP) is a secreted protein localizing to the extracellular space which takes part in collagen post-translational modifications, extracellular fibril assembly and intracellular trafficking. CRTAP which is mainly expressed with predominant expression in articular chondrocytes is essential for efficient 3-hydroxylation of fibrillar collagen prolyl residues. Mutations in the gene encoding CRTAP might cause to autosomal recessive osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type 7 and type 2B.