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S100B faintly binds calcium but binds zinc extremely strongly-distinct binding sites with different affinities exist for both ions on each monomer. Physiological concentrations of potassium ion antagonize the binding of both divalent cations, especially affecting high-affinity calcium-binding sites. S100B binds to and initiates the activation of STK38 by releasing autoinhibitory intramolecular interactions within the kinase. Interaction with AGER after myocardial infarction participates in myocyte apoptosis by activating ERK1/2 and p53/TP53 signaling.

SH3 domain-binding glutamic acid-rich-like protein 2 (SH3BGRL2) belongs to the human SH3BGR family. SH3BGRL2 is a protein of 107 amino acids, which, like SH3BGRL and SH3BGRL3 proteins, is highly homologous to the N-terminal region of the SH3BGR protein and seems to be related to Glutaredoxins and to PKC-interacting cousin of thioredoxin homology domain. SH3BGRL2 is highly expressed in the brain, placenta, liver and kidney and it is also expressed in the retina. The SH3BGRL2 gene is located to chromosome 6q13-15 and its messenger RNA has a large 3' untranslated region containing several AUUUA repeats.

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

SHMT1 is a member of the SHMT family. SHMT1 is the cellular form of serine hydroxymethyltransferase, a pyridoxal phosphate-containing enzyme which catalyzes the reversible conversion of serine and tetrahydrofolate to glycine and 5 10-methylene tetrahydrofolate. In addition, SHMT1 specifically provides one-carbon units for thymidylate biosynthesis, reduces methylenetetrahydrofolate pools for S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthesis by synthesizing serine, sequesters 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and inhibits SAM synthesis.

ATOH1 activates E box-dependent transcription in collaboration with TCF3/E47, but the activity is entirely provoked by the negative regulator of neurogenesis HES1. ATOH1 takes part in the differentiation of divisions of neural cells by activating E box-dependent transcription.

B9 domain-containing protein (B9D1) is one of the numerous proteins which take part in ciliogenesis. Alterations in expression of B9D1 have been found in a family with Meckel syndrome. The Meckel syndrome has been associated with at least six different genes. B9D1 is placed within the Smith-Magenis syndrome region on chromosome 17. Three alternatively spliced transcript variants which encode dissimilar proteins have been found for B9D1.

Epiregulin is part of the EGF family. Epiregulin functions as a ligand of EGFR, as well as a ligand of most members of the ERBB (v-erb-b2 oncogene homolog) family of tyrosine-kinase receptors.Epiregulin is expressed mostly in the placenta and peripheral blood leukocytes and in specific carcinomas of the bladder, lung, kidney and colon. Epiregulin stimulates the proliferation of keratinocytes, hepatocytes, fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells. Epiregulin inhibits the growth of several tumor-derived epithelial cell lines. Human Epiregulin is initially synthesized as a glycosylated 19.0 kDa transmembrane precursor protein, which is processed by proteolytic cleavage to produce a 6.0 kDa mature secreted sequence.

Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole Carboxylase (PAICS) is an enzyme involved in nucleotide biosynthesis and particularly in purine biosynthesis. PAICS is a bifunctional enzyme containing phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase activity at its N-terminal region and phosphoribosylaminoimidazole succinocarboxamide synthetase at its C-terminal region. PAICS catalyzes the conversion of 5'-phosphoribosyl-5-aminoimidazole(AIR) into 5'-phosphoribosyl-4-carboxy-5-aminoimidazole (CAIR) as described in the reaction. PAICS catalyzes steps six and seven of purine biosynthesis.

SULT2A1 is a member fo the sulfotransferase family. SULT2A1 is primarily expressed in liver and adrenal tissues, and to a lesser extent in kidney. SULT2A1 catalyzes the 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate-dependent sulfation of an extensive selection of steroids in human liver and adrenal tissues, and in addition is responsible for a larg number of the sulfation of bile acids in human liver.

FABP6 also called ileal fatty acid binding protein, is part of the small family of highly conserved, cytoplasmic proteins that bind long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. FABP6 cytosolic protein binds bile acid. FABP6 plays a role in fatty acid uptake, transport, and metabolism. FABP6 stimulates gastric acid and pepsinogen secretion. Seems to be able to bind to bile salts and bilirubins. FABP6 expression is restricted in the small intestine to the ileum where it is involved in the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Alternate transcription promoters generate 2 transcript variants, encoding a 128 aa and a 177 aa residue protein. Human FABP6 isoform 2 contains 128 amino acid residues and is acetylated on Ala2. FABP6 binds together fatty acids and bile acids and is directly involved in fatty acid transport and metabolism.

GLUL catalyzes the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonia. Glutamine is a major source of energy and that takes part in cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and cell signaling. GLUL is expressed during early fetal stages, and has a role in maintaining body pH by removing ammonia from circulation. Mutations in GLUL gene are related with congenital glutamine deficiency.

CIB1 (Calcium and integrin binding 1) is regulatory protein with 50% homology to calmodulin and calcineurin B, that encodes a member of the calcium-binding protein family. CIB1 interacts with DNA-dependent protein kinase and may play a role in kinase-phosphatase regulation of DNA end joining. Also CIB1 is widely expressed and binds to a number of effectors, such as integrin ?IIb, PAK1, and polo-like kinases, in different tissues.

SARS Coronavirus is an enveloped virus containing three outer structural proteins, namely the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins. Spike (S)-glycoprotein of the virus interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to allow viral entry into susceptible target cells. Accordingly, S-protein plays an important role in virus infection cycle and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies.It has recently been shown that SARS is caused by a human coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are the major cause of upper respiratory tract illness in humans, such as the common cold. Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses, featuring the largest viral RNA genomes known to date (27-31 kb). The first step in coronavirus infection is binding of the viral spike protein, a 139-kDa protein, to certain receptors on host cells. The spike protein is the main surface antigen of the coronavirus. The most prominent protein in the culture supernatants infected with SARS virus is a 46 kDa nucleocapsid protein. This suggests that the nucleocapsid protein is a major immunogen that may be useful for early diagnostics.

Heparanase is an endo-β-D-glucuronidase, which degrades heparan sulfate side chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in the extracellular matrix. Heparanase plays an important role in ECM degradation, facilitating the migration and extravasation of tumor cells and inflammatory leukocytes (1,2,3). Upon degradation, heparanase releases growth factors and cytokines that stimulate cell proliferation and chemotaxis (4,5). Heparanase is a heterodimer comprised of a 50 kDa subunit harboring the active site and a 8 kDa subunit. It is produced as a latent 65 kDa precursor and proteolytically processed to its active form (1,6). Heparanase is highly expressed in myeloid leukocytes (i.e. neutrophils) in platelets and in human placenta. Human heparanase was found to be upregulated in various types of primary tumors, correlating in some cases with increased tumor invasiveness and vascularity and with poor prospective survival (7,8).

Since April 2012, cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been identified in various countries. Coronaviruses are the cause of the common cold, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and other severe illnesses with high mortality rates, all are classified into coronavirus family. MERS-CoV is a new type of SARS found in the coronavirus family causing severe pneumonia with sudden and serious respiratory illness with high mortality rates as well. Since January 27th 2015, the WHO has reported 956 human cases, including 351 deaths. More cases of the new coronavirus strain are expected. Like in other coronaviruses, large surface spike glycoprotein is a central structural protein of this virus; it is located above the virion surface to bind and enter into the target cell. Spike protein has 2 domains- S1 and S2. The S1 domain is responsible for cellular tropism and interaction with target cell, while the S2 domain is responsible for membrane fusion. The C-terminal of S1 domain contains a receptor binding domain, and is also a potential target for vaccine development and an antigen for diagnosis.

Haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolase domain-containing protein 3 (HDHD3) is a member of the HAD-like hydrolase superfamily. This family of hydrolase enzymes includes L-2-haloacid dehalogenase, epoxide hydrolases and phosphatases.

Histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 2 (HINT2) belongs to the triad proteins, which are nucleotide hydrolases and transferases that act on the alpha-phosphate of ribonucleotides. Hydrolase is most likely involved in steroid biosynthesis, furthermore it might play a role in apoptosis. HINT2 shows high expression in liver and pancreas. Expression is significantly down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are a class of enzymes which charge tRNAs with their cognate amino acids. Asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (NARS) is localized to the cytoplasm and is a member of the class II family of tRNA synthetases. The N-terminal domain characterizes the signature sequence for the eukaryotic asparaginyl-tRNA synthetases.

Uteroglobin (SCGB1A1) which belongs to the Secretoglobin (SCGBs) superfamily, is a multifunctional protein that exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effects by binding small hydrophobic molecules such as phospholipids and prostaglandins. Uteroglobin is involved in numerous functions including anti-inflammation, inhibition of phospholipase A2 and the sequestering of hydrophobic ligands. SCGB1A1 is expressed by Clara cells, the non-ciliated, non-mucous secretory cells predominant in lung bronchioles, and by other epithelia which communicate with the external environment. On top of sequestering pro-inflammatory mediators and carcinogens, Uteroglobin is implicated in the inhibition of cell migration and invasion, platelet aggregation, and T cell differentiation. SCGB1A1 gene defects are associated with a susceptibility to asthma.

Synovial Sarcoma, X Breakpoint 2 (SSX2) is a part of the family of highly homologous synovial sarcoma X breakpoint proteins which play a role as transcriptional repressors. Homologous synovial sarcoma X breakpoint proteins are also able to bring out spontaneous humoral and cellular immune responses in cancer patients, and are effective targets in cancer vaccine-based immunotherapy.

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.

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a human, single-stranded RNA retrovirus that causes T-cell leukemia and T-cell lymphoma. The virus activates a subset of T-helper cellscalled Th1cells. The result is a proliferation of Th1 cells and overproduction of Th1 related cytokines (mainly IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha). Feedback mechanisms of these cytokines cause a suppression of the Th2 lymphocytes and a reduction of Th2 cytokine production (mainly IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13). The end result is a reduction in the ability of the infected host to mount an adequate immune response to invading organisms that require a predominantly Th2 dependant response (these include parasitic infections and production of mucosal and humoral antibodies).

Prealbumin is a thyroid hormone-binding protein that transports thyroxine from the bloodstream to the brain. Prealbumin is a carrier protein which transports thyroid hormones in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, and also transports retinol (vitamin A) in the plasma. Transthyretin consists of a tetramer of identical subunits and is dominantly produced in the liver. Mutations in Prealbumin are related to amyloid deposition, affecting predominantly peripheral nerve and/or the heart. The diseases caused by mutations include amyloidotic polyneuropathy, euthyroid hyperthyroxinaemia, amyloidotic vitreous opacities, cardiomyopathy, oculoleptomeningeal amyloidosis, meningocerebrovascular amyloidosis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Prealbumin is an indicator of protein-energy malnutrition since it has a circulating half life of 2 days and reacts swiftly to changes in nutritional status.