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A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

Chondrosarcoma Associated Gene 1 (CSAG1) belongs to a family of tumor antigens. The CSAG1 protein is expressed in chondrosarcomas, but may also be expressed in normal tissues such as testis.

Marginal zone B- and B1-cell-specific protein (MZB1) functions as a hormone-regulated adipokine/proinflammatory cytokine which is implicated in causing chronic inflammation and affecting cellular expansion. MZB1 links with immunoglobulin M (IgM) heavy and light chains and stimulate s IgM assembly and secretion. MZB1 exerts its effect by acting as a molecular chaperone or as an oxidoreductase as it exhibits a low level of oxidoreductase activity. MZB1 helps to diversify peripheral B-cell functions by regulating Ca(2+) stores, antibody secretion and integrin activation.

DsbE is a reducing Dsb protein involved in electron transfer for cytochrome c maturation in the periplasm of Escherichia coli. DsbE is one of 12 proteins required for their assembly in the periplasm. DsbE functions is to decrease disulphide bonds formed among correctly paired cysteine residues in the cytochrome c apoproteins prior to haem attachment by CcmF and CcmH.

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.

There are four mitochondrial proteins composing the enzyme system for cleavage of glycine (glycine cleavage system): P protein, H protein, T protein, and L protein. GCSH is the H protein. GCSH transfers the methylamine group of glycine from the P protein to the T protein. Mutations in this gene results in nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH).

Leukocyte Cell Derived Chemotaxin 1 (214-333 a.a.), also known as LECT1, is a glycosylated transmembrane protein which is cleaved to form a mature, secreted protein. The mature protein encourages chondrocyte growth and inhibits angiogenesis. The mature protein takes part in endochondral bone development by permitting cartilaginous anlagen to be vascularized and replaced by bone. LECT1 is expressed in the avascular area of prehypertrophic cartilage and its expression reduces during vascular invasion and chondrocyte hypertrophy.

Cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1) is a member of the interleukin 6 family of cytokines, which are involved in cell signaling via phosphorylation of gp130. CLCF1 has a sequence of 225 amino acids with a 27 aa signal peptide, having a molecular mass of 22kDa in the mature form, and the maximum homology to cardiotrophin-1 and ciliary neurotrophic factor. CLCF1 is actively secreted from cells by forming a complex with soluble type I CRLF1 or soluble CNTFR. Defects in the CLCF1 gene cause cold-induced sweating syndrome 2 (CISS2). The CISS2 syndrome is typified by profuse sweating after exposure to cold as well as congenital physical abnormalities of the head and spine.

Cleavage And Polyadenylation Specific Factor 4 (CPSF4) is a member of the CPSF4/YTH1 family. CPSF4 complex plays a vital role in pre-mRNA 3'-end formation, distinguishing the AAUAAA signal sequence and interacting with poly(A) polymerase and further factors to bring about cleavage and poly(A) additive. CPSF4 binds RNA polymers with a preference for poly(U).

Zinc Finger, CCHC Domain Containing 12 (ZCCHC12) which holds 1 CCHC-type zinc finger is a part of the ZCCHC12 family. ZCCHC12 takes part in the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-signaling pathway as a transcriptional coactivator. BMP signaling is positively modulated as a result of the interaction between ZCCHC12 with SMAD1 and the association with CBP in the transcription complex.

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.

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 this 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.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor belongs to the CCN family of proteins. The CCN family presently consists of six members in human also known as: Cyr61 (Cystein rich 61), CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor), Nov (Nephroblastoma Overexpressed gene), WISP-1, 2 and 3 (Wnt-1 Induced Secreted Proteins). The CCN genes encode secreted proteins associated with the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cell membrane. CCN proteins are matricellular proteins which are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including: proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. They are expressed in derivatives of the three embryonic sheets and are implicated in the development of kidney, nervous system, muscle, bone marrow, cartilage and bone. During adulthood, they are implicated in wound healing, bone fracture repair, and pathologies such as: fibrosis, vascular ailments and tumorigenesis.
Full length secreted CCN proteins can show an antiproliferative activity, whereas truncated isoforms are likely to stimulate proliferation and behave as oncogenes. The full length protein consists of four modulesModule I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs).
Module II includes a stretch of 70amino acid residues – which shares sequence identity with the Von Willebrand Factor Type C repeat (VWC).
Module III contains sequences sharing identity with the Thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) (WSXCSXXCG), which is thought to be implicated in the binding of sulfated glycoconjugates and to be important for cell adhesion. Module IV, also designated CT, is encoded by exon5. It is the leasts conserved one of the four domains at the level of nucleotide sequence, but it appears to be critical for several of the biological functions attributed to the CCN proteins. Module IV resembles the CT domain of several extracellular protein including, Von Willebrand's factor and mucins. Sequence similarities to heparin-binding motifs are also found within this domain.
Proteolysis of the secreted full-length CCN proteins that has been reported in the case of CCN2 and CCN3 might result in the production of CCN-derived peptides with high affinity for ligands that full-length CNN proteins bind only poorly. Amino-truncated CCN2 isoforms were biologically active whereas no specific biological activity has been attributed to the truncated CCN3. Although the molecular processes underlying the production of these secreted isoforms is presently unknown, it is important to note that proteolysis occur at the same amino acid residues in both CCN2 and CCN3. An elevated expression of CCN2 has also been detected by Northern blotting in human invasive mammary ductal carcinomas, dermatofibromas, pyogenic granuloma, endothelial cells of angiolipomas and angioleiomyomas, and in pancreatic tumors. A study performed with chondrosarcomas representative of various histological grades established that CCN2 expression was closely correlated with increasing levels of malignancy. In agreement with CCN2 playing a role in brain tumor angiogenesis, immunocytochemistry studies indicated that both glioblastoma tumor cells and proliferating endothelial cells stained positive for CCN2. In astrocytomas, CCN2 expression was particularly elevated in high grade tumors, with a marked effect of CCN2 on cell proliferation. Downregulation of CCN2 expression in these cells was associated with a growth arrest at the G1/S transition while over-expression of CCN2 induced a two-fold increase of the number of cells in the G1 phase. Gene profiling analysis allowed to identify a set of about 50 genes whose expression might account for the proliferative activity of CCN2 in these cells. CCN2 was seen in a higher proportion of mononuclear cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

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.

GM-CSF Receptor Alpha (CSF2RA) is the alpha subunit of the heterodimeric receptor for colony stimulating factor 2, a cytokine which controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes and macrophages. CSFR2 is also a member of the cytokine family of receptors. In addition, this gene is found in the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) of the X and Y chromosomes. Multiple transcript variants encoding various isoforms have been found for this gene, while some of the isoforms being membrane-bound and others being soluble. Diseases associated with CSF2RA include surfactant metabolism dysfunction, pulmonary 4, and csf2ra-related pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction.

Brain Abundant Membrane Attached Signal Protein 1 (BASP1) is a membrane bound protein with numerous transient phosphorylation positions and PEST motifs. Preservation of proteins with PEST sequences amongst diverse species supports their functional significance. PEST sequences take place in proteins with high turnover rates. Immunological attributes of this protein are species specific. BASP1 undergoes N-terminal myristoylation.

Nicotinamide riboside kinase 2 (ITGB1BP3) is a member of the uridine kinase family and NRK subfamily. ITGB1BP3 catalyzes the phosphorylation of nicotinic acid riboside and nicotinamide riboside to create nicotinic acid mononucleotide and nicotinamide mononucleotide. ITGB1BP3 reduces laminin matrix deposition and cell adhesion to laminin, but not to fibronectin. ITGB1BP3 is involved in the regulation of PXN at the protein level and of PXN tyrosine phosphorylation. ITGB1BP3 also has a role in the regulation of terminal myogenesis.

Granzyme H also known as GZMH belongs to the peptidase S1 family. GZMH is an essential part for HBV eradication. The HBx protein, which is required for the replication of HBV, is cleaved at Met(79) by GZMH. Furthermore, GZMH inhibitor can abolish GZNH- as well as lymphokine-activated killer cell-mediated HBx degradation and HBV clearance. A HBx-deficient HBV is resistant to GzmH- in addition to lymphokine-activated killer cell-mediated viral clearance.

Members of the Rho (or ARH) protein family and other Ras-related small GTP-binding proteins are involved in various cellular procedures, such as cell cytoskeletal organization, secretion, proliferation, and signaling. The GTPBPs are active only in the GTP-bound state. At least 3 types of proteins firmly regulate cycling between the GTP-bound and GDP-bound states: GDP-dissociation inhibitors (GDIs), GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide-releasing factors (GRFs). ARHGDIB and the other GDIs lower the level of GDP dissociation from Ras-like GTPases.

Endoglin is a type I membrane glycoprotein located on cell surfaces and is part of the TGF beta receptor complex.
The protein consists of a homodimer of 180 kDA with disulfide links. It has been found on endothelial cells, activated macrophages, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells. Endoglin has been found to be part of the TGF-beta1 receptor complex. It thus may be involved in the binding of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, activin-A, BMP-2, and BMP-7. Beside TGF-beta signaling endoglin may have other functions. It has been postulated that endoglin is involved in the cytoskeletal organization affecting cell morphology and migration. Endoglin has a role in the development of the cardiovascular system and in vascular remodeling. Its expression is regulated during heart development . Experimental mice without the endoglin gene die due to cardiovascular abnormalities.

Cathepsin-Z (CTSZ) is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase and member of the peptidase C1 family. CTSZ, which has been also known as cathepsin X and cathepsin P, exhibits carboxy-monopeptidase and carboxy-dipeptidase activities. CTSZ is expressed ubiquitously in cancer cell lines and primary tumors and, similar to other members of this family, takes part in tumorigenesis.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 11 (CXCL11) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokinen family that is also called inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC) and (IP-9). I-TAC is highly expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes, pancreas and liver, with moderate levels in thymus, spleen and lung and low expression levels were in small intestine, placenta and prostate. Gene expression of CXCL11 is strongly induced by IFN-g and IFN-b, and weakly induced by IFN-a. The I-TAC chemokine elicits its effects on its target cells by interacting with the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR3, with a higher affinity than do the other ligands for this receptor, CXCL9 and CXCL10. I-TAC is chemotactic for activated T cells. The CXCL11 gene is located on human chromosome 4 along with many other members of the CXC chemokine family.