Search results

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.

DsbA appears to be necessary for correct formulation of disulfide bonds in exported proteins in vivo. DsbA is useful as a standard in immunoblotting. This protein catalyses the reduction and exchange of disulfide bonds and the oxidation of free sulfhydryl groups in vitro. It is the strongest oxidant of the thioredoxin superfamily. This thio/disulfide oxidoreductase is required for efficient disulfide bond formation in the periplasm of E. coli.

PBX/Knotted 1 Homeobox 1 (PKNOX1) is a DNA-binding factor which takes part in the regulation of the transcriptional activity of AP-1 containing promoters. PKNOX1, which is also known as UEF3, PRP-1 and p64, is a Hmeobox protein. PKNOX1 forms stable complexes containing PBX proteins which synergize with AP-1 binding factors.

UGDH is part of the UDP-glucose/GDP-mannose dehydrogenase family and is a widely expressed enzyme localized in the liver. UGDH transfers UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronate and thus takes part in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate, and heparan sulfate. These glycosylated products are ordinary molecules of the extracellular matrix and participate in signal transduction, cell migration, and cancer growth and metastasis.

Glycolate oxidase (HAO1) is a part of the superfamily of the alpha hydroxy acid oxidases (HAO) enzymes. HAO1 catalyses the FMN mediated oxidation of glycolate to glyoxylate and glyoxylate to oxalate by reducing oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. HAO1 is expressed mainly in the liver and pancreas and is most active on twocarbon substrates such as glycolate. HAO1 isthe main cause of hyperoxaluria, a disorder in which large deposits of calcium oxalate form kidney stones.

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 isoform 1 or AKR1C3 is an enzyme, part of the aldo-keto reductase family that promotes conversion of ketones & aldehydes to the alcohol forms while using cofactors such as NADPH & NADH. AKR1C3 promotes the reduction of PG molecule (prostaglandin), PQ (phenanthrenequinone) & PGH2. Another role is oxidation of 9 alpha, 11 beta-PGF2 to PGD2. AKR1C3 holds a crucial part in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases like asthma and can also take part in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation.

Exodus-2 protein or CCL21 is a cytokine, part of the CC chemokines subgroup. Because of its 6 conserved residues of the cysteine amino acid (instead of the 4 residues we usually see in chemokines), the protein is also named 6Ckine and SLC (secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine). The gene that codes for this protein is located on chromosome 9 in humans. The Exodus-2 is binding to the CCR7 receptor, which is a chemokine receptor located to the cell’s surface.

Fractalkine soluble form is chemotactic for t-cells and monocytes, but not for neutrophils. Fractalkine membrane-bound form promotes adhesion of those leukocytes to endothelial cells. Fractalkine regulates leukocyte adhesion and migration processes at the endothelium and binds to CX3CR1. Fractalkine gene is located on human chromosome 16 along with some CC chemokines known as CCL17 and CCL22.

Malate dehydrogenase (EC1.1.1.37) is an enzyme in the citric acid cycle that catalyzes the conversion of malate into oxaloacetate (using NAD+) and vice versa (this is a reversible reaction). Malate dehydrogenase is not to be confused with malic enzyme, which catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate using NADPH.
Malate dehydrogenase is also involved in gluconeogenesis, the synthesis of glucose from smaller molecules. Pyruvate in the mitochondria is acted upon by pyruvate carboxylase to form oxaloacetate, a citric acid cycle intermediate. In order to get the oxaloacetate out of the mitochondria, malate dehydrogenase reduces it to malate, and it then traverses the inner mitochondrial membrane. Once in the cytosol, the malate is oxidized back to oxaloacetate by cytosolic malate dehydrogenase. Finally, phosphoenol-pyruvate carboxy kinase (PEPCK) converts oxaloacetate to phosphoenol pyruvate.

Deoxyribose-phosphate aldolase (DERA) is a member of the deoC/fbaB aldolase protein family involved in the carbohydrate degradation pathway. DERA catalyzes the conversion of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate to D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and an acetyldehyde.

Ganciclovir (GCV) is a pro-drug nucleoside analog that is activated by phosphorylation. It is useful in the study of gene therapy in cancer research.
Ganciclovir is a synthetic analogue of 2'-deoxy-guanosine. It is initially phosphorylated to a deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP) analogue. This mechanism competitively inhibits the integration of dGTP by viral DNA polymerase, resulting in the termination of elongation of viral DNA. Upon expression of a viral suicide gene encoding thymidine kinase, the non-toxic pro-drug is converted to a phosphorylated active analog and is incorporated into the DNA of replicating eukaryotic cells, causing death of the malignant dividing cell. The cell cycle is irreversibly arrested at the G2-M checkpoint. Gap junction involvement in the ganciclovir bystander effect has been studied. Ganciclovir has been used to study loss of telomeres and to evaluate sensitivity of viruses to antiviral treatments.
Ganciclovir is used in molecular biology for selection against random recombination events when homologous recombination of a gene of interest is required.

Darbepoetin is a mutant recombinant human EPO-Alpha protein re-engineered, containing 5 amino acid changes at N30, T32, V87, N88, T90. Darbepoetin exhibits longer half-life stimulating red blood cell production than Erythropoietin. Darbepoetin maintains hemoglobin more effectively compared to EPO-Alpha.

Bivalirudin directly inhibits thrombin by specifically binding as well to the catalytic site and to the anion-binding exosite of circulating and clot-bound thrombin. Bivalirudin is a specific and reversible direct thrombin inhibitor.
Thrombin, which is a serine protease, plays a central role in the thrombotic process; it cleaves fibrinogen into fibrin monomers and activates Factor XIII to Factor XIIIa, allowing fibrin to develop a covalently cross-linked structure which stabilizes the thrombus. Thrombin also activates Factors V and VIII, which promotes further thrombin generation, activates platelets, stimulating aggregation and granule release.

S100A11 is a member of the S100 family of proteins which contains two EF-hand calcium-binding motifs and is thought to be involved in the regulation of a number of cellular processes including cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100A11 may function in motility, invasion and tubulin polymerisation. S100 proteins are localized either in the cytoplasm or the nucleus of a wide range of cells. There are at least 13 members in the S100 gene family, which are located as a cluster on chromosome 1q21. Chromosomal rearrangements and altered expression of S100A11 have been implicated in tumor metastasis.

Cystatin 7 (CST7) is a glycosylated cysteine protease inhibitor with a putative role in immune regulation through inhibition of a unique target in the hematopoietic system. Cystatin-7 is comprised of multiple cystatin-like sequences. The superfamily is comprised of 3 inhibitory families: the type 1 cystatins (stefins), type 2 cystatins and the kininogens. Some members are active cysteine protease inhibitors, while others have lost or possibly never had this inhibitory activity. Type 2 cystatin proteins are a class of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in various human fluids and secretions. CST7 protein expression has been observed in numerous human cancer cell lines established from malignant tumors.

Adiponectin is a recently discovered 244 amino acid protein, the product of the apM1 gene, which is physiologically active and specifically and highly expressed in adipose cells (Adipokine). The protein belongs to the soluble defense collagen super family; it has a collagen-like domain structurally homologous with collagen VIII and X and complement factor C1q-like globular domain. APM-1 forms homotrimers, which are the building blocks for higher order complexes found circulating in serum.

Amino-terminal enhancer of split (AES) is a member of the groucho/TLE family of proteins. AES can function as a homooligomer or as a heteroologimer with other family members in order to forcefully repress the expression of other family member genes. Furthermore, AES can repress NFkB-regulated gene expression and is believed to have a significant role in initiating and maintaining cell differentiation events. AES is similar in sequence to the amino terminus of Drosophila enhancer of split groucho, a protein which is involved in neurogenesis during embryonic development. The AES protein is expressed predominately in the fetal brain, liver, lung, heart and kidney and also in the adult muscle.

Cyclophilin B (also known as PPIB, peptidylpropyl isomerase B) is a cyclosporine-binding protein and is mainly located within the endoplasmic reticulum. It is associated with the secretory pathway and released in biological fluids. This protein can bind to cells derived from T- and B-lymphocytes, and may regulate cyclosporine A-mediated immunosuppression.

DBH catalyzes the chemical reaction. DBH is an oxidoreductase which belongs to the copper type II, ascorbate-dependent monooxygenase family, in particular those performing on paired donors, with O2 as oxidant and incorporation or reduction of oxygen. The oxygen incorporated can not be derived from O2 with reduced ascorbate as one donor, as well as incorporation of one ato of oxygen into the other donor.

Syndecan-4 is a type I integral membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), which was originally isolated from cloned rat microvascular endothelial cells as an antithrombin-binding molecule, and is now known to be a member of the syndecan family. Syndecan-4 binds to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), midkine, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor via its heparan sulfate chains, and is thought to be involved in various biologic functions such as signaling of bFGF, anticoagulation, and focal adhesion formation. A previous study demonstrated that syndecan-4 is expressed in various tissues, and its level of expression in the kidney is stronger than those of other syndecan family members. Thus, syndecan-4 is thought to play certain roles in maintaining renal function. Moreover, it has been reported that proteoglycans, especially sulfated proteoglycans, are involved in organogenesis of the kidney.

Dopachrome Tautomerase also known as DCT, belongs to the tyrosinase family. DCT takes a significant part in the synthesis of the melanin pigment including tyrosinase (Tyr), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (Tyrp1). Which are highly involved in eumelanin synthesis. The change among the eumelanin and the pheomelanin pathways is assumed to depend on the presence of cysteine. Hence, in the lack of cysteine, dopaquinone, the product of tyrosinase action, is transformed to cyclodopa (leucodopachrome) and afterwards to dopachrome (and DOPA).

SDSL belongs to the serine/threonine dehydratase family and function as a serinespecific dehydratase. SDSL utilizes pyridoxal phosphate and is one of three key enzymes which take part in the metabolism of Glycine and serine.

Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, thus committing glucose to the glycolytic pathway. Hexokinase1 encodes a ubiquitous form of hexokinase which localizes to the outer membrane of mitochondria. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hemolytic anemia due to hexokinase deficiency. Alternative splicing of HXK1 results in five transcript variants which encode different isoforms, some of which are tissue-specific. Each isoform has a distinct N-terminus; the remainder of the protein is identical among all the isoforms. A sixth transcript variant has been described, but due to the presence of several stop codons, it is not thought to encode a protein.

Nectin-1, also referred to as ED4, is a poliovirus receptor- related 1 protein is a part of the Nectin family. Nectin-1 endorses cell-cell contacts by forming homophilic or heterophilic trans-dimers. Heterophilic interactions among PVRL1/nectin-1 & PVRL4/nectin-4 and among PVRL1/nectin-1 & PVRL3/nectin-3 have been found. Nectin-1 acts as an entry receptor for herpes simplex virus & pseudorabies virus as well. Likewise, Neurite outgrowth-promoting activity has been shown by Nectin-1.