Search results

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is derived from the transcription product of the proglucagon gene. The major source of GLP-1 in the body is the intestinal L cell that secretes GLP-1 as a guthormone. The biologically active forms of GLP-1 are: GLP-1-(7-37) and GLP-1-(7-36)NH2.
GLP-1 secretion by L cells is dependent on the presence of nutrients in the lumen of the small intestine. The secretagogues (agents that causes or stimulates secretion) of this hormone include major nutrients like carbohydrate, proteinand lipid. Once in the circulation, GLP-1 has a half life of less than 2 minutes, due to rapid degradation by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4.
GLP-1 possesses several physiological properties that make it a subject of intensive investigation as a potential treatment of diabetes mellitus. The known physiological functions of GLP-1 include: Increases insulin secretion from the pancreas in a glucose-dependent manner, decreases glucagon secretion from the pancreas, increases beta cells mass and insulin gene expression, inhibits acid secretion and gastric emptying in the stomach, decreases food intake by increasing satiety.

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.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 3 (CXCL3) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as GRO3 oncogene (GRO3), GRO protein gamma (GROg) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2-beta (MIP2b). CXCL3 controls migration and adhesion of monocytes and mediates it effects on its target cell by interacting with a cell surface chemokine receptor called CXCR2. The gene for CXCL3 is located on chromosome 4 in a cluster of other CXC chemokines.

MMP-2 or gelatinase A, is secreted by fibroblasts, cardiomyocytes, and myofibroblasts. MMP-2 has a broad feild of substrates, that contain elastin, collagen, fibroblast growth factor, endothelin, MMP-9, plasminogen, MMP-13 and TGF-beta, pointing towards bread roles of MMP-2. MMP-2 activity boosts at day four post-MI and attains a maximum by day seven.

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.

Gamma-glutamylaminecyclotransferase (A2LD1) is an enzyme which converts gamma-glutamylamines to free amines and 5-oxoproline. A2LD1 demonstrates high activity toward gamma-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine, derived from the breakdown of fibrin and other proteins cross-linked by transglutaminases. A2LD1 assists in the proteolytic degradation of crosslinked fibrin by breaking down isodipeptide L-gamma-glutamyl-L-epsilon-lysine, which is a byproduct of fibrin degradation. The reaction catalyzed by the A2LD1 produces 5-oxo-L-proline and a free alkylamine.

MOB Kinase Activator 1B (MOB1B) is similar to the yeast Mob1 protein. Yeast Mob1 binds Mps1p, which is a protein kinase vital for spindle pole body duplication and mitotic checkpoint regulation.

Mammalian mitochondrial ribosomal proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and assist in protein synthesis within the mitochondrion. Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) consist of a small 28S subunit and a large 39S subunit (MRPL13 is a 39S subunit protein) and have an estimated 75% protein to rRNA composition compared to prokaryotic ribosomes, where this ratio is reversed. An additional difference between mammalian mitoribosomes and prokaryotic ribosomes is that the second contain a 5S rRNA. Among various species, the proteins comprising the mitoribosome differ greatly in sequence, and sometimes in biochemical properties, which prevents easy recognition by sequence homology.

FABP1 (Fatty acid binding protein1) encodes the fatty acid binding protein found in liver. FABP1 is composed of ten antiparallel beta strands that form a barrel with a bigger binding pocket than the other FABPs allowing it to accommodate two fatty acid. This protein binds free fatty acids and their coenzyme A derivatives, bilirubin, and some other small molecules in the cytoplasm; it may be involved in intracellular lipid transport and metabolism.

GTP Cyclohydrolase I Feedback Regulator, also known as GCHFR, is a Protein coding gene which includes a homodimer. GCHFR binds and mediates tetrahydrobiopterin inhibition of GTP cyclohydrolase I. GCHFR also regulates phenylalanine metabolism in the liver and in the production of biogenic amine neurotransmitters and nitric oxide.

Metallophosphoesterase domain containing 2 (MPPED2) is a member of the UPF0046 family. MPPED2 displays low metallophosphoesterase activity, in vitro. In addition, MPPED2 encodes a metallophosphoesterase. MPPED2 may take part in the development of the nervous system, brain development. Among the diseases associated with MPPED2 are wagr syndrome, and aniridia.

Akt1, also known as "Akt" or protein kinaseB (PKB) is an important molecule in mammaliancellular signaling.
In humans, there are three genes in the "Akt family": Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3. These enzymesare members of the serine/threonine-specific protein kinasefamily (EC2.7.11.1).
Akt1 is involved in cellular survival pathways, by inhibiting apoptoticprocesses. Akt1 is also able to induce protein synthesispathways, and is therefore a key signaling protein in the cellular pathways that lead to skeletal muscle hypertrophy, and general tissue growth. Since it can block apoptosis, and thereby promote cell survival, Akt1 has been implicated as a major factor in many types of cancer. Akt (now also called Akt1) was originally identified as the oncogenein the transforming retrovirus, AKT8.

Growth-Hormone is a member of the somatotropin/prolactin family of hormones which play an important role in growth control. The gene, along with four other related genes, is located at the growth hormone locus on chromosome 17 where they are interspersed in the same transcriptional orientation; an arrangement which is thought to have evolved by a series of gene duplications. The five genes share a remarkably high degree of sequence identity. Alternative splicing generates additional isoforms of each of the five growth hormones, leading to further diversity and potential for specialization. This particular family member is expressed in the pituitary but not in placental tissue as is the case for the other four genes in the growth hormone locus. Mutations in or deletions of the gene lead to growth hormone deficiency and short stature.

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 helps in guiding 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 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 necessary for a various patterning events during development: signal produced by the notochord that induces ventral cell fate in the neural tube and somites, and the polarizing signal for patterning of the anterior-posterior axis of the developing limb bud. Sonic HedgeHog exhibits both floor plate- and motor neuron-inducing activity. Mutations in a long-range Sonic HedgeHog enhancer located in an intron of the limb region 1 gene result in preaxial polydactyly.

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.

MOB3B is similar to yeast Mob1 protein which binds Mps1p, a protein kinase vital for spindle pole body duplication and mitotic checkpoint regulation. MOB3B is situated on the opposite strand as the INF kappa precursor (IFNK) gene.

MOBKL1B is a member of the MOB1/phocein family. MOBKL1B stimulates the kinase activity of STK38 and STK38L. MOBKL1B also binds to and regulates downstream targets such as the NDR-family protein kinases and LATS1 kinase. Thus, MOBKL1B participates in cell cycle checkpoint control and tumor inhibition.

NCALD belongs to the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) family. NCALD is cytosolic at inactive calcium levels; but, high intracellular calcium levels induce a conformational transformation which exposes the myristoyl group, causing protein association with membranes and partial co-localization with the perinuclear trans-golgi network. NCALD protein is a regulator of signal transduction by G protein-coupled receptor.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 or ICAM1 is a protein, part of the ICAM family of proteins. ICAM1 acts as ligand for integrin alpha-L/beta-2 which is a leukocyte adhesion peptide. Amid migration of leukocytes ICAM1 promotes endothelial apical assembly cups via activation of ARHGEF26/SGEF & RHOG.

Calbindins are Ca-binding proteins belonging to the troponin C superfamily. CALB28K/Calbindin1/CALB1 (D28K/Spot35 protein or cholecalcin, rat 261 aa; mouse 261 aa; human 261-aa, chromosome 8q21.3-q22.1) was originally described as 27-kDA induced by vitamin D in the duodenum of chicken. In mammals, it is expressed in the kidney, pancreatic islets, and brain. In brain, its synthesis is independent of vitamin D. CABP28K contains 4 active and 2 inactive EF-hand Ca-binding domains. The gene for CABP28K is clustered in the same region as carbonic anhydrase. The neurons in the brains of patients with Huntington disease are CAB28K depleted. There are two types of CaBPs: the "trigger"- and the "buffer"-CaBPs. The conformation of "trigger" type CaBPs changes upon Ca2+ binding and exposes regions on protein that interact with target molecules, thus altering their activity. The buffer-type CABP are thought to control the intracellular calcium concentration. Calbindin D-28K is found predominantly in subpopulations of central and peripheral nervous system neurons, and in certain epithelial cells involved in Ca2+ transport such as distal tubular cells and cortical collecting tubules of the kidney, and in enteric neuroendocrine cells.

USH1C gene product Harmonin, is a scaffold protein which functions in the assembly of Usher protein complexes. Harmonin is able to attach to various proteins in cell membranes and coordinate their activities. Harmonin contains PDZ domains, a coiled-coil region with a bipartite nuclear localization signal and a PEST degradation sequence. USH1C is expressed in the small intestine, colon, kidney, eye, vestibule of the inner ear and weakly in the pancreas.
Mutations in the USH1C gene cause the Usher syndrome type I which is an autosomal recessive sensory defect involving congenital profound sensorineural deafness, vestibular dysfunction, and blindness due to progressive retinitis pigmentosa. Sensorineural deafness is caused by damage to the neural receptors of the inner ear, the nerve pathways to the brain, or the area of the brain that receives sound information. The 3 types of the Usher syndrome (1- 3) are distinguished by age at onset and differences in auditory and vestibular function. USH1C gene defects cause of non-syndromic sensorineural deafness autosomal recessive type 18 (DFNB18), is a form of sensorineural hearing loss.

RGS19 is a member of RGS (regulator of G protein signaling) family and negatively regulates G protein coupled receptor signaling. RGS19 protein specifically cooperates with heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein G alpha i3 (GAI3).

Celiac disease is an enteropathy that is characterized by intestinal lesions of variable severity. Tissue-type transglutaminase (tTG) is believed to be the predominant autoantigen for celiac disease and the corresponding autoantibodies show higher sensitivity and specificity than anti-gliadin antibodies. Highly pure recombinant human tTG is now available to replace the traditionally used tTG fraction from guinea pig.
Tissue-type transglutaminase antigens have been specifically modified for improved handling: exchange of an active site amino acid eliminates the protein cross-linking activity of the enzyme, while maintaining the native three-dimensional structure and the enzyme's secondary GTPase activity. This engineering assures reproducible properties of the antigen preparations through the absence of variable and ill-defined covalent aggregates of tTG antigen and host cell proteins.

CKB is a cytoplasmic enzyme that takes part in energy homeostasis. CKB enzyme reversibly catalyzes the transfer of phosphate among ATP and various phosphogens such as creatine phosphate. CKB functions as a homodimer in the brain as well as in different tissues, and as a heterodimer with a similar muscle isozyme in heart. Creatine kinases supply the energy of phosphate hydrolysis essential to drive the normal role of many cellular systems including muscle, tumor and cancer cells.