Search results

AKR1B1 is part of the aldo/keto reductase superfamily, which consists of more than 40 known enzymes and proteins. AKR1B1 catalyzes the reduction several aldehydes, including the aldehyde form of glucose, and thus involved in the development of diabetic complications by catalyzing the reduction of glucose to sorbitol. AKR1B1 catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of a wide variety of carbonyl-containing compounds to their corresponding alcohols. Transgenic mice over expressing human aldose reductase show that AKR1B1 is a key player in ischemic injury and impairment of functional and metabolic recovery after ischemia. Aldose Reductase is an obligatory mediator of TNF-alpha signaling leading to an increase in the expression of adhesion molecules and increased binding of monocytes to the endothelium. AKR1B1 is a critical regulator of TNF-alpha-induced apoptotic signaling in endothelial cells.

CBR3 catalyzes the reduction of a large number of biologically and pharmacologically active carbonyl compounds to their corresponding alcohols. CBR3 is one of several monomeric NADPH-dependent oxidoreductases. Furthermore, CBR3 contains 3 exons spanning 11.2 kilobases and is strongly linked to another carbonyl reductase gene, the CBR1. It was suggested that CBR3 mediates 9-cis-retinoic acid-induced cytostatis and is a potential prognostic marker for oral malignancy.
CBR3 is identified in the ovary, pancreas, intestine, colon, kidney, brain, thymus, lung, heart, liver, spleen, leukocyte, prostate and the testis.

AK1 is a small ubiquitous enzyme which is essential for maintenance and cell growth. It is involved in the regulation of adenine nucleotide composition within a cell by catalyzing the reversible transfer of the terminal phosphate group between ATP and AMP. The AK1 protein is found in the cytosol of skeletal muscle, brain and erythrocytes. Defects in the AK1 gene are the cause of a form of hemolytic anemia.

UBE2V2 comprises a distinct subfamily within the E2 protein family. They have sequence similarity to other ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes however require the conserved cysteine residue that is vital for the catalytic activity of E2s. UBE2V2 shares homology with ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 variant 1 and yeast MMS2 gene product. UBE2V2 participates in the differentiation of monocytes and enterocytes.

ACADVL is an inner mitochondrial membrane enzyme that is part of the family of acyl-CoA dehydrogenases. ACADVL protein participates in lipid metabolism and has catalytic activity toward esters of long chain and very long chain fatty acids such as palmitoyl-CoA and stearoyl-CoA, and is involved in the first step of the fatty acid β-oxidation pathway. ACADVL deficiency in reduces myocardial fatty acid beta-oxidation and is related with cardiomyopathy.

Carbonic Anhydrase VIII or CA8 was previously called CA-related protein due to its sequence resemblance to additional recognized carbonic anhydrase genes. Nonetheless CA8 doesn’t have carbonic anhydrase function. This protein keeps bearing a carbonic anhydrase classification because of coherent sequence similarity to additional proteins in carbonic anhydrase family. Mutations in this protein may lead to cerebellar dysequilibrium syndrome type 3 or ataxia mental retardation.

M2 autoantigen is a key mark of antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA), a typical serological feature in patients suffering from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) which is a serious autoimmune liver disease accompanied by damage to intrahepatic bile ducts. Molecular definition of the M2 antigen has displayed it as no less than 3 separate target proteins. The M2 role is like the so-called E2 subunits (or dihydrolipoamide transferases) of different mitochondrial dehydrogenase complexes:
*pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.
*branched chain 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex.
*2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex.
Biochemically, these complexes catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of various alpha-keto-acid substrates and systematically engage with a prosthetic lipoamide group; they are situated in the mitochondrial matrix in association with the inner membrane. The most well-known reactivity of AMA positive PBC sera is against PDC-E2. Some patients have AMA which reacts with PDC-E2 alone (95%), but most patients also show reactivity against OGDC-E2 (39-88%) and/or BCOADC-E2 (53-55%). Actually, patients can be found with reactivity only against OGDC-E2 and/or BCOADC-E2 and no PDC-E2 autoantibodies. These patients will be overlooked in assays based on natural source-derived, predominantly PDC-E2-containing M2 antigen preparations.

Matrix Metallopeptidase 23B (MMP23B) belongs to the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, and it is section of a duplicated region of chromosome 1p36.3. MMP23B is a protease. MMP23B regulates the surface expression of some potassium channels by holding them in the endoplasmic reticulum. Members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family are involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes, such as arthritis and metastasis.

Cyclophilin-E is a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family. PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and speeds up the protein folding. Cyclophilin-E contains a highly conserved cyclophilin domain in addition to a RNA-binding domain. Cyclophilin-E exhibits PPIase activity, protein folding activities and possess RNA-binding activity. Cyclophilin-E contains 2 RNA binding domains at the N-terminal region and a PPIase domain at the C-terminal region.

Sulfotransferase 1C2 (SULT1C2) is a member the sulfotransferase1 superfamily. SULT1C2 catalyzes the transfer of sulfate from PAPS (3’-phosphoadenosine-5’-phosphosulfate) to phenol-containing compounds, including hormones and neurotransmitters. A short and a long isoform of SULT1C2 exist as a result of alternative splicing events. Sulfotransferase enzymes catalyze the sulfate conjugation of various hormones, neurotransmitters, drugs, and xenobiotic compounds.

PPCDC is a member of the HFCD (homo oligomeric flavin containing Cys decarboxylase) superfamily which takes a part in the biosynthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) from pantothenate (Vitamin B). The biosynthesis of CoA from pantothenate needs several steps: the phosphorylation of pantothenate, the conversion of 4’-hosphopantothenate to 4''-phosphopantetheine, the adenylation by phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase to form dephospho-CoA and the phosphorylation by dephospho-CoA kinase to form CoA. PPCDC is a key player in this pathway. PPCDC converts 4''-phosphopantothenate into 4''-phosphopantetheine.

PLA2G7 is a secreted enzyme which catalyzes the degradation of platelet-activating factor to biologically inactive products. The PLA2G7 enzyme is produced by inflammatory cells and hydrolyzes oxidised phospholipids in LDL. In the blood, PLA2G7 goes mainly with LDL and less than 20% is coupled with HDL.
PLA2G7 is implicated in the development of atherosclerosis and is also a marker for cardiac disease. PLA2G7 might have a major physiologic effect in the presence of inflammatory bodily responses.
PLA2G7 alters the action of PAF (platelet-activating factor) by hydrolyzing the sn-2 ester bond to yield the biologically inactive lyso-PAF. PLA2G7 has specificity for substrates with a short residue at the sn-2 position. PLA2G7 is inactive against long-chain phospholipids.
PLA2G7 gene defects are the source of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase deficiency, which is a trait that is present in 27% of the Japanese population.

Human Ubc9 is homologous to ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s). However, instead of conjugating ubiquitin, it conjugates a ubiquitin homologue, small ubiquitin-like modifier 1(SUMO-1). And hUbc9 retains striking structural and functional conservation with yeast Ubc9. The ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation system has been recognized as a complete enzymatic pathway that is responsible for the selective degradation of abnormal and short-lived proteins. The conjugation of ubiquitin requires the activities of ubiquitin-activating (E1) and –conjugating (E2) enzymes.

ACADM enzyme is essential for the degradation a certain group of fats called medium-chain fatty acids. ACADM is essential for converting specific fatty acids to energy, mainly during fasting periods. ACADM functions in mitochondria, the energy-producing centers within cells. ACADM is localized in the mitochondria of numerous tissue types, predominantly the liver.

PLAUR is one of 2 activators which convert the extracellular zymogen plasminogen to plasmin, a serine protease involved in a various normal and pathological processes that require cell migration and/or tissue destruction. PLAUR protein is synthesized and released from cells as a single-chain proenzyme with narrow enzymatic activity and is converted to an active two-chain disulfide-linked active enzyme by plasmin and other specific proteinases.

AKR7A3, takes part in the detoxification of aldehydes and ketones. AKR7A3 reduces the dialdehyde protein-binding form of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to the non-binding AFB1 dialcohol. AKR7A3 participates in protection of liver against the toxic and carcinogenic effects of AFB1, a potent hepatocarcinogen.

DPP4 also called adenosine deaminase complexing protein-2, and T-cell activation antigen CD26 is a serine exopeptidase and complex enzyme that is expressed on the surface of most cell types. DPPIV is an intrinsic membrane glycoprotein and a serine exopeptidase that cleaves X-proline dipeptides from the N-terminus of polypeptides. DPP4 plays a role in t-cell activation. DPP4 is associated with intracellular signal transduction, apoptosis and involved in tumor biology. There are at least 63 substrates which can bind specifically to DPP4 enzyme including growth factors, chemokines, neuro peptides. Furthermore, DPP4 plays a major role in glucose metabolism by cleaving incretins such as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1.

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase (HMGCL) is a mitochondrial matrix protein which is a member of the HMG-CoA lyase family. HMGCL is a homodimer and participates in leucine catabolism and ketogenesis, the hepatic synthesis of ketone bodies which, during fasting, provides a major source of energy for the heart, brain and kidney. More precisely, HMGCL catalyzes the final step of these processes, the cleavage of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA to acetoacetic acid and acetyl-CoA.

PDCD6IP is a Class E VPS protein which participates in concentration and sorting of cargo proteins of the multivesicular body or incorporation into intralumenal vesicles that are generated by invagination and scission from the limiting membrane of the endosome. PDCD6IP binds to the phospholipid lysobisphosphatidic acid which is abundant in MVBs internal membranes. The MVB pathway appears to require the sequential function of ESCRT-O, -I,-II and -III complexes. PDCD6IP is an adapter for a subset of ESCRT-III proteins, such as CHMP4, to function at distinct membranes. PDCD6IP is mandatory for completion of cytokinesis. PDCD6IP takes part in HIV-1 virus budding. PDCD6IP replaces TSG101 in its function of supporting HIV-1 release. PDCD6IP takes part in the regulation of both apoptosis and cell proliferation. PDCD6IP is a cytoplasmic protein that cooperates with apoptosis-associated proteins (ALG-2 and PDCD6) and with the endocytosis-regulator CIN85. Overexpression of PDCD6IP and endophilin

Tyrosylprotein Sulfotransferase 2 (TPST2) is a member of the protein sulfotransferase family. TPST2 is a widely expressed protein, which catalyzes the O-sulfation of tyrosine residues within acidic regions of proteins. The TPST2 protein is a type II integral membrane protein located in the Golgi body.

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.

Legumain, also known as LGMN, is a cysteine endopeptidase which demonstrates strict specificity for hydrolysis of asparaginyl bonds. Furthermore, LGMN can also cleave aspartyl bonds slowly, in particular under acidic conditions. LGMN plays an essential role in the endosomal/lysosomal degradation system as the Legumain deficiency causes the accumulation of pro cathepsins B, H & L, another group of lysosomal cysteine proteases. Furthermore, over expression of LGMN in tumors is important for invasion/metastasis.

TAR RNA Binding Protein 2 (TARBP2) is a component of the RISC loading complex which takes part in the production of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) by DICER1. TARBP2, which is also known as the micro-RNA (miRNA) loading complex (miRLC), contains three DRBM (double-stranded RNA-binding) domains. TARBP2 binds to the HIV-1 TAR RNA and stimulates translation of TAR-containing RNAs.

CNDP Dipeptidase 1, also known as CNDP1 is a member of the peptidase M20A family. CNDP1 Mannheim which is the shortest allelic form has been more common in the absence of nephropathy in addition to being associated with lower serum carnosinase levels. Furthermore, Carnosine inhibited the increased production of fibronectin as well as collagen type VI in podocytes and the increased production of TGF-beta in mesangial cells. Diabetic patients with the CNDP1 Mannheim variant are less at risk for nephropathy. In addition, on renal cells carnosine protects against the adverse effects of high glucose levels.