Search results

TNFRSF13B (TACI) is a transmembrane receptor protein found predominantly on the surface of B cells (a significant part of the immune system). TACI was at first discovered owing to its ability to interact with calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand (CAML). Later on, it was found that TACI plays a key role in humoral immunity by interacting with two members of the TNF family. Also, TACI controls T cell-independent B cell antibody responses, isotype switching, and B cell homeostasis.

The SARS Nucleocaspid is a protein that has a crucial structural importance, by making the virions associates with the RNA genome and therefore create a nucleocapsid that has the specific helical form. There has been found 3 different domain structures to the nucleocapsid antigen. This protein contains 3 outer structural proteins, the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins.

Complement factor H (CFH) is an important regulatory component of the alternative pathway of complement. CFH is prevents complement activation on host cells and tissues, mainly the kidney. CFH controls the formation and decay of the alternative pathway C3/C5 convertase and acts as a cofactor for factor I which proteolytically inactivates C3b when C3b is bound to factor H. The N-terminal 5 domains of CFH bind to C3b and inhibit binding of factor B thus reducing the formation of C3/C5 convertase. CFH also binds to preformed C3/C5 convertases and causes quick release of the catalytic subunit Bb. These activities are necessary for controlling the spontaneous activation of the alternative pathway amplification process in plasma. In addition, CFH controls the formation and decay of these enzymes when C3b is attached to the surface of particles.

Ganglioside GM2 activator (GM2A) is a small glycolipid transport protein which functions as a substrate specific co-factor for the lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase A. GM2A participates in lipid metabolism. GM2A protein is localized in lysosomes. The GM2A protein forms a large binding pocket for a number of single chain phospholipids and fatty acids. GM2A demonstrates calcium-independent phospholipase activity. GM2A stimulates ganglioside GM2 degradation by presenting GM2 to beta-hexosaminidase A. The Beta-hexosaminidase A, along with GM2A, catalyzes the degradation of the ganglioside GM2, and other molecules containing terminal N-acetyl hexosamines. GM2A gene mutations result in GM2-gangliosidosis type AB or the AB variant of Tay-Sachs disease.

a-Synuclein (amino acids 1-140), an acidic neuronal protein of 140 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant and is natively unfolded with an extended structure primarily composed of random coils. a-synuclein has been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and more recently, to be an important regulatory component of vesicular transport in neuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies have shown that a-synuclein has chaperone activity and that this activity is lost upon removing its C-terminal acidic tail (amino acids 96-140).

Phl p 12.0101 a profilin, is a minor grass pollen allergen which is involved in cytoskeleton mobility by interacting with actin filaments. It is well recognized that IgE binding can cause immune cross-reactivity with profilins of plant-derived foods and pollen profilin.

SNRPC is a member of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein C family. The SNRPC protein component of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) particle required for the formation of the spliceosome. SNRPC participates in the processing of nuclear precursor messenger RNA splicing. snRNP particles are tackled by autoantibodies frequently produced by patients with connective tissue diseases.

Immediate Early Response 3 (IER3) functions in the protection of cells from Fas- or tumor necrosis factor type alpha-induced apoptosis. IER3 has a role in the ERK signaling pathway by inhibiting the dephosphorylation of ERK by phosphatase PP2A-PPP2R5C holoenzyme. In addition, IER3 serves as an ERK downstream effector mediating survival. As a member of the NUPR1/RELB/IER3 survival pathway, IER3 provides pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with significant resistance to cell stress, such as starvation.

BLNK is a cytoplasmic linker or adaptor protein which has a significant role in B cell development. B-cell linker (BLNK) is essential for normal B-cell development. BLNK bridges B cell receptor-associated kinase activation with downstream signaling pathways, thus affecting different biological functions. BLNK associates with the effector proteins GRB2, Vav, NCK and PLC-g following activation of the B cell receptor. BLNK is phosphorylated by the Syk tyrosine kinase, which in turn permits activation of downstream effector proteins including GRB2 and PLC-g. Mutations in the BLNK gene cause hypoglobulinemia and absent B cells, a disease in which the pro- to pre-B-cell transition is developmentally blocked. Deficiency in the BLNK protein is seen in some cases of pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Ataxin 3 is otherwise known as Machado-Joseph disease protein 1. Machado–Joseph disease is a hereditary autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. ATXN3 contains trinucleotide CAG repeats in the coding region, and the expansion of these repeats from the normal 13-36 to 68-79 causes the Machado-Joseph disease. ATXN3 is a poly-ubiquitin-binding protein whose cellular turnover is regulated by its catalytic activity.
In addition, ATXN3 is a proteasome-associated factor which mediates the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. ATXN3 folds reversibly using a single intermediate; partial destabilization of ATXN3 by chemical denaturation causes the formation of fibrillar aggregates by the non-pathological variant.
Ataxin-3 interacts with the major histone acetyltransferases cAMP-response-element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein, p300, and p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor and hinders transcription by these coactivators.

BCL2 gene encodes an integral outer mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks the apoptotic death of some cells such as lymphocytes. Constitutive expression of BCL2, such as in the case of translocation of BCL2 to Ig heavy chain locus, is thought to be the cause of follicular lymphoma. Two transcript variants, produced by alternate splicing, differ in their C-terminal ends.

Coiled-Coil Domain Containing 43 (CCDC43) which is a member of the CCDC43 family is a human protein whose function is currently not understood. Coding sequence diversity are two isoforms produced by alternative splicing. Isoform 1 has been chosen as the 'canonical' sequence.

RANKL binds to tnfrsf11b/opg and to tnfrsf11a/rank. Osteoclast differentiation and activation factor. Augments the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate naive t-cell proliferation. May be an important regulator of interactions between t-cells and dendritic cells and may play a role in the regulation of the t-cell-dependent immune response. sRANKL may also play an important role in enhanced bone-resorption in humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

EPCAM is a carcinoma-associated antigen and belongs to a family which includes at least 2 type I membrane proteins. The EPCAM protein has a role in embryonic stem cells proliferation and differentiation. EPCAM is used as a target for immunotherapy treatment of human carcinomas. EPCAM is expressed on most normal epithelial cells and gastrointestinal carcinomas and acts as a homotypic calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule. Epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EPCAM) can act as a physical homophilic interaction molecule between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) at the mucosal epithelium for supplying immunological barrier as a first line of defense against mucosal infection. EPCAM gene mutations result in congenital tufting enteropathy.

Salmonella Typhi is a pathogen causing typhoid fever, affecting over 17 million people with approximately 600,000 deaths annually worldwide. If untreated, typhoid fever cases result in mortality rates ranging from 12-30%.

Coagulation factor VIII participates in the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation; factor VIII is a cofactor for factor IXa which, in the presence of Ca+2 and phospholipids, converts factor X to the activated form Xa. This gene produces two alternatively spliced transcripts. Transcript variant 1 encodes a large glycoprotein, isoform a, which circulates in plasma and associates with von Willebrand factor in a noncovalent complex. This protein undergoes multiple cleavage events. Transcript variant 2 encodes a putative small protein, isoform b, which consists primarily of the phospholipid binding domain of factor VIIIc. This binding domain is essential for coagulant activity. Defects in this gene results in hemophilia A, a common recessive X-linked coagulation disorder.

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.

Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that belongs to the transferrin family of iron binding proteins. It is found in human breast milk as well as most epithelial surface secretions including tears, nasogastric, saliva, and bronchial. Lactoferrin binds 2 molecules of iron with very high affinity. Lactoferrin inhibits bacterial growth by withholding iron, its N-terminal region is an antimicrobial peptide. Lactotransferrin acts synergistically with lysozyme to potentiate the activity of both proteins. The multifunctional protein lactoferrin has many physiological possible roles. It is often referred to as an innate defense protein and frequently serves as the first line of defense in protection against pathogens. It has been shown to have the ability to bind iron, it is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, it is an antioxidant and it also has immunomodulatory properties. It has many beneficial properties, which make it a good candidate for a number of product applications. Considerable research is currently going on to explain the various suggested biological functions of lactoferrin.

RPA-interacting protein isoform d (RPAIN) is a single-stranded-DNA binding protein which participates in various eukaryotic DNA processes such as replication, repair and recombination. RPAIN interacting protein has been indicated as an adapter protein that is involved in RPA nuclear import instead of the prototypical importin proteins that normally mediate nuclear import. RPAIN is mainly expressed in pancreas, kidney, muscle, liver, lung, placenta, brain, heart, leukocytes, colon, intestine, ovary, testis, prostate, thymus and spleen.

Cardiotrophin 1 (CT-1) is a 201 amino acid member of the interleukin-6 superfamily. It was identified by its ability to induce hypertrophic response in cardiac myocytes. CT-1 mRNA levels were found both in cardiac myocytes and in cardiac nonmyocytes. CT 1 was also detected in abundance in normal adult human lung and was expressed in both fetal and adult airway smooth muscle cells. CT 1 activates gp130 dependent signaling and stimulates the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway to transduce hypertrophic and cytoprotective signals in cardiac myocytes.
CT 1 has also a neurotrophic function. CTF1 deficiency causes increased motoneuron cell death in spinal cord and brainstem nuclei of mice during a period between embryonic day 14 and the first postnatal week. Moreover, CT-1 is a hepatocyte survival factor that efficiently reduces hepatocellular damage in animal models of acute liver injury. Cardiotrophin 1 expression is augmented after hypoxic stimulation and it can protect cardiac cells when added either prior to simulated ischaemia or at the time of reoxygenation following simulated ischaemia. Cardiotrophin 1 can induce expression of the protective heat shock proteins (hsps) in cardiac cells.
Cardiotrophin-1 increased ventricular expression of ANP, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and angiotensinogen mRNA.
Cardiophin 1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with heart failure, patients with dilatative cardiomyopathy, moderate/severe mitral regurgitation, stable and unstable angina and after acute myocardial infarction.

FHIT enzyme cleaves adenosine 5'' PPP 5'' A to yield AMP and ADP. FHIT gene includees the regular fragile site FRA3B on chromosome 3. Alterations and deletions of the FHIT gene are highly linked to the genesis and establishment of human tumors of the lung, cervix, breast, colon, stomach and pancreas. In normal cells, FHIT functions as a tumor suppressor and physically relates with ubiquitin conjugating enzyme 9.