Search results

Glycoprotein Nmb (GPNMB) is a member of the PMEL/NMB family. GPNMB is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein which exhibits homology to the pMEL17 precursor, a melanocyte-specific protein. GPNMB is expressed in the lowly metastatic human melanoma cell lines and xenografts but has no expression in the highly metastatic cell lines. GPNMB might be involved in growth delay and reduction of metastatic potential. GPNMB is up-regulated in a number of cancer cells, including in glioblastoma multiforme. GPNMB is expressed in many melanoma cells, as well as in tissue macrophages, including liver Kuppfer cells and lung alveolar macrophages, in podocytes and in some cells of the ciliary body of the eye (at protein level). GPNMB is hardly detectable in the healthy brain.

The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with an extremely organized ring-shaped 20S core structure. The core structure consists of 4 rings of 28 non-identical subunits; 2 rings consist of 7 alpha subunits and 2 rings consist of 7 beta subunits. Proteasomes are spread all over the eukaryotic cells in large quantities and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent procedure in a non-lysosomal pathway. A vital role of a modified proteasome, the immunoproteasome, is the handling of class I MHC peptides.

GRB2 is widely expressed and binds the EGFR and contains one SH2 domain and two SH3 domains which form a complex formation with proline-rich regions of other proteins, and its SH2 domain binds tyrosine phosphorylated sequences. GRB2 is related to the Sem5 gene of C.elegans, which is takes part in the signal transduction pathway. GRB2 is an adaptor protein that provides an important link between cell surface growth factor receptors and the Ras signaling pathway. Inhibition of GRB2 activity damages developmental processes in a variety of organisms and blocks transformation and proliferation of different cell types.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that was previously called GRO1 oncogene, Neutrophil-activating protein 3 (NAP-3) and melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha (MSGA-a). It is secreted by human melanoma cells, has mitogenic properties and is implicated in melanoma pathogenesis. CXCL1 is expressed by macrophages, neutrophilsand epithelial cells, and has neutrophil chemoattractant activity. CXCL1 plays a role in spinal cord development by inhibiting the migration of oligodendrocyte precursors and is involved in the processes of angiogenesis, inflammation, wound healing, and tumorigenesis. This chemokine elicits its effects by signaling through the chemokine receptor CXCR2. The gene for CXCL1 is located on human chromosome 4 amongst genes for other CXC chemokines.

Clathrin light chain B (CLTB) is a member of the clathrin light chain family. Clathrin is a protein that has a key role in the formation of coated vesicles. CLTB functions as the key structural component of the lattice-type cytoplasmic face of coated pits and vesicles which capture certain macromolecules during receptor-mediated endocytosis. CLTB forms a triskelion form comprised of 3 clathrin heavy chains and 3 light chains. When the triskelia interact they form a polyhedral pattern which encircles the vesicle. CME (Clathrin-mediated endocytosis) controls numerous cellular physiological processes such as the internalization of growth factors and receptors, entry of pathogens, and synaptic transmission.

MAX protein is part of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLHZ) family of transcription factors. MAX forms homodimers and heterodimers with Mad, Mxi1 and Myc. Myc is an oncoprotein implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The homodimers and heterodimers compete for a common DNA target site (the E box) and rearrangement among these dimer forms offers a complex system of transcriptional regulation. In contrast to Myc, which is exceedingly regulated throughout progression during the cell cycle, Max is very stable and is much more abundant than Myc.

Excess adiposity is the most important risk in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipose tissue produces several proteins (adipocytokines) such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-a, and IL-6, that modulate sensitivity and appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and was originally isolated as a secreted factor that synergizes with IL-7 and stem cell factors to promote the growth of B cell precursors. Visfatin homologs have been identified in carp, invertebrate mollusks, and bacteria, as well as in vertebrates, including humans and the mouse. It has been postulated to play a role in innate immunity.
Visfatin exerts mimetic effects that are dose-dependent and quantitatively similar to stimulating muscle and adipocyte glucose transport, and in inhibiting hepatocyte glucose production. Intravenous injection of recombinant visfatin in mice decreased plasma glucose in a dose-dependent fashion. In keeping with its mimetic effects, visfatin was as effective in reducing hyperglycemia in deficient diabetic mice. Visfatin was also found to be bound to and activate receptor, causing receptor phosphorylation and the activation of downstream signaling molecules. However, visfatin did not compete for binding to the receptor, indicating that the two proteins were recognized by different regions of the receptor. Thus, visfatin might play a role in glucose homeostasis and dysregulation in biosynthesis or signal transduction, and might contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes.

RALY belongs to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) gene family. RALY takes part in pre-mRNA splicing and also in embryonic development. Moreover, alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants have been found for RALY.

RDBP is a putative RNA binding protein. RDBP protein is one of the five components of the multisubunit NELF complex which collaborates with DSIF to repress RNA polymerase II elongation. Control of transcription elongation needs a complex interaction between positive transcription elongation factor b and negative transcription elongation factors, DSIF and NELF. DSIF and NELF, act as negative transcription elongation factors by increasing the time the polymerase spends at pause sites. RDBP has a functional RNA-binding domain, whose mutations impair transcription repression without affecting known protein-protein interactions.

rGFP, also known as Green Fluorescent Protein, is a protein produced by the jellyfish (Aequorea Victoria) that produces bioluminescence in the green zone of the noticeable spectrum. Green Fluorescent Protein is a useful and ubiquitous instrument for producing chimeric proteins, where it functions as a fluorescent protein tag. rGFP is expressed in most known cell types and is used as a noninvasive fluorescent marker in living cells and organisms. Green Fluorescent Protein permits a broad range of applications where it has functioned as a cell lineage tracer, reporter of gene expression, or as a measure of protein-protein interactions.

RHEB is part of the Ras & GTPase superfamily that was originally identified as an immediate-early gene in brain but is also widely expressed in other tissues. RHEB encodes a lipid-anchored, cell membrane protein with five repeats of the RAS-related GTP-binding region. RHEB is necessary in regulation of growth and cell cycle progression due to its role in the TOR/S6K signaling pathway. RHEB has GTPase activity and shuttles between a GDP-bound form and a GTP-bound form, and farnesylation of the protein is required for this activity. RHEB induces oncogenic transformation. RHEB overexpression accelerates lymphomagenesis and is associated with prostate cancer. RHEB can cytopathologically distinguish between fibroadenoma from malignant breast carcinomas which is considered as a secondary diagnostic tool. RHEB has a central role in the regulation of the Ras/B-Raf/C-Raf/MEK signaling network.

GH-releasing peptides (GHRPs) are synthetic peptides that like GHRH act directly on pituitary somatotrophs to stimulate GH release. Growth hormone (GH) release is stimulated by a variety of synthetic secretagogues, of which growth hormone-releasing hexapeptide (GHRP-6) has been most thoroughly studied; it is thought to have actions at both pituitary and hypothalamic site.

GM-CSF Receptor Alpha (CSF2RA) is the alpha subunit of the heterodimeric receptor for colony stimulating factor 2, a cytokine which controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes and macrophages. CSFR2 is also a member of the cytokine family of receptors. In addition, this gene is found in the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) of the X and Y chromosomes. Multiple transcript variants encoding various isoforms have been found for this gene, while some of the isoforms being membrane-bound and others being soluble. Diseases associated with CSF2RA include surfactant metabolism dysfunction, pulmonary 4, and csf2ra-related pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction.

Death-Associated Protein (DAP) is a proline-rich protein. DAP, which is a negative regulator of autophagy, takes part in the mediation of IFN-gamma-induced cell death.

Alkaline Phosphatase Liver/Bone/Kidney (Alpl) is a part of the alkaline phosphatases family which comprises 4 related alkaline phosphatases. Alpl is a membrane-bound glycosylated enzyme which is not expressed in any particular tissue. Alpl takes part in skeletal mineralization.

Adaptor-related protein complex 1 associated regulatory protein (AP1AR) is essential for AP-1 dependent transport between the trans-Golgi network and endosomes. AP1AR regulates the membrane association of AP1G1/Gamma1-adaptin which is one of the subunits of the AP-1 adapter complex. AP1AR plays a role as effector of AP-1 in calcium-induced endo-lysosome secretion. The interaction with AP1G1/Gamma1-adaptin attenuates the release of the AP-1 complex from membranes.

Aspartoacylas or ASPA, is a protein, found in several tissues such as skeletal muscle, cerebral white matter, kidney, liver & lungs. ASPA is a homodimer that catalyses the deacetylation of Nacetylaspartic acid. In order to create L-aspartate & acetate.

SORBS3 is an SH3 domain-containing adaptor protein. The existence of SH3 domains in the SORBS3 protein have a role in its capability to attach to other cytoplasmic molecules and contribute to cystoskeletal organization, cell adhesion and migration, signaling, and gene expression. Various transcript variants encoding different isoforms are known for this gene.

HER-2/neu (erbB-2) encodes an 185-kDa orphan receptor tyrosine kinase that is constitutively active as a dimer and displays potent oncogenic activity when overexpressed. Herstatin, as the product of alternative HER-2 transcript, retains intron 8.
The herstatin mRNA is expressed in normal human fetal kidney and liver, but is at reduced levels relative to p185HER-2 mRNA in carcinoma cells that contain an amplified HER-2 gene. Herstatin appears to be an inhibitor of p185HER-2, because it disrupts dimers, reduces tyrosine phosphorylation of p185, and inhibits the anchorage-independent growth of transformed cells that overexpress HER-2.

Folate Receptor 1, also known as FOLR1, is a part of the folate receptor family whose members bind folic acid. FOLR1 binds to folate and reduced folic acid derivatives and facilitates transfer of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and folate analogs into the cells. FOLR1 is either attaches to membranes through a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol linkage or exists in a soluble form. FOLR1 is also needed for embryonic development and normal cell proliferation.

PRCP is a plasma protein which takes part in the cleavage of C-terminal amino acids linked to proline in proteinfor example angiotensin-2 & 3 at acidic pHenvironment rather than at neutral pHwhich exhibit less activity. This cleavage is important since Angiotensin-2 takes part in regulation of blood pressure & electrolyte balance which is essential to hypertension.

Guanine Nucleotide Binding Protein Gamma 13, also known as GNG13 is a member of the G protein gamma family. Heterotrimeric G proteins, which consist of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits, function as signal transducers for the 7-transmembrane-helix G protein-coupled receptors. GNG13 is the gamma subunit which is expressed in taste, retinal, and neuronal tissues and takes a central part in taste transduction.