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SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor-1) is small cytokine belonging to the chemokine family that is officially designated Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12). It is produced in two forms, SDF-1?/CXCL12a and SDF-1?/CXCL12b, by alternate splicing of the same gene. Chemokines are characterized by the presence of four conserved cysteines, which form two disulfide bonds. The CXCL12 proteins belong to the group of CXC chemokines, whose initial pair of cysteines are separated by one intervening amino acid. CXCL12 is strongly chemotactic for lymphocytes and has been implicated as an important cell co-ordinator during development. During embryogenesis it directs the migration of hematopoietic cells from foetal liver to bone marrow. Mice which were knocked-out for CXCL12 gene were lethal before the birth or within just 1 hour of life. As another role, CXCL12a alters also the electrophysiology of neurons. CXCL12 was shown to be expressend in many tissues in mice (including brain, thymus, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and bone marrow).
The receptor for this chemokine is CXCR4, which was previously called fusin. This CXCL12-CXCR4 interaction used to be considered exclusive (unlike for other chemokines and their receptors), but recently it was suggested that CXCL12 is also bound by CXCR7 receptor.
The gene for CXCL12 is located on human chromosome 10. In human and mouse both CXCL12 and CXCR4 show high identity of sequence: 99% and 90%, respectively.

ADP-ribosylation factor 5 (ARF5) is a small guanine nucleotide-binding protein which enhances the enzymatic activities of cholera toxin. ARF-dependent regulatory mechanisms include the coordination of spectrin interactions with golgi membranes and the connection of actin to the golgi via rho family-dependent G-protein localization and WASP/Arp2/3 complexes. ARF5 is involved in vesicular transport and functioning via phospholipase D activation.

cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 19 (ARPP19) is protein phosphatase inhibitor which specifically inhibits protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) during mitosis. When phosphorylated at Ser-62 during mitosis, ARPP19 specifically interacts with PPP2R2D (PR55-delta) and inhibits its activity, leading to inactivation of PP2A, a vital condition to maintain cyclin-B1-CDK1 activity high during M phase. ARPP19 protein may indirectly boost GAP-43 expression. The 19 kDa cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein has a role in regulating mitosis by obstructing protein phosphatase-2A.

SMARCA4 belongs to the SWI/SNF family of proteins and is similar to the brahma protein of Drosophila. Proteins in this family have helicase and ATPase activities and are considered to regulate transcription ofcertain genes by altering the chromatin structure around those genes. SMARCA4 is part of the large ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex SNF/SWI, which is essential for transcriptional activation of genesnormally repressed by chromatin. In addition, SMARCA4 is able to bind BRCA1, as well as regulating the expression ofthe tumorigenic protein CD44. Moreover, mutations in SMARCA4 cause rhabdoid tumor predisposition syndrome type 2.

Thermosensitive Gluconokinase, also known as IDNK is a 187 a.a protein which is a member of the gluconokinase gntK/gntV family. IDNK catalyzes theconversion of ATP and D-gluconate to ADP and 6-phospho-D-gluconate. In addition, IDNK is considered to take part in gender determination, deletion of the distal portion of 9p is able to lead to a development of male to female sex reversal, the phenotype of a female with a male X, Y genotype.

EED is a part of the Polycomb-group family whose members form multimeric protein complexe that are involved in preserving the transcriptional repressive state of genes over successive cell generations. EED mediates repression of gene activity through histone deacetylation, and acts as a specific regulator of integrin function. EED protein interacts with enhancer of zeste 2, the cytoplasmic tail of integrin ?7, immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) MA protein, and histone deacetylase proteins.

Epidermal growth factor has a profound effect on the differentiation of specific cells in vivo and is a potent mitogenic factor for a variety of cultured cells of both ectodermal and mesodermal origin. The EGF precursor is believed to exist as a membrane-bound molecule which is proteolytically cleaved to generate the 53-amino acid peptide hormone that stimulates cells to divide.
EGF stimulates the growth of various epidermal and epithelial tissues in vivo and in vitro and of some fibroblasts in cell culture.

The signal sequence receptor (SSR) is a glycosylated endoplasmic reticulum membrane receptor related with protein translocation across the ER membrane. The SSR consists of 2 subunits, a 34-kD glycoprotein (alpha-SSR or SSR1) and a 22-kD glycoprotein (beta-SSR or SSR2). The human beta-signal sequence receptor gene (SSR2) maps to chromosome bands 1q21-q23. Diseases correlated with SSR2 include calcaneonavicular coalition, and osteosarcoma, and among its related super-pathways are Viral mRNA Translation and Generic Transcription Pathway.

O-Sialoglycoprotein Endopeptidase, also known as OSGEP is a member of the KAE1 / TsaD family. OSGEP is essential for the formation of threonylcarbamoyl group on adenosine at position 37 (t6A37) in tRNAs which read codons beginning with adenine. OSGEP take a direct catalytic part in the above reaction, however other proteins of the complex are required to fulfill this activity.

PAIP2 has a role as a repressor in the regulation of translation initiation of poly(A)-containing mRNAs. PAIP2 inhibitory activity on translation is mediated through its action on PABPC1. PAIP2 displaces the interaction of PABPC1 with poly(A) RNA and competes with PAIP1 for binding to PABPC1. PAIP2 association with PABPC1 results in disruption of the cytoplasmic poly(A) RNP structure organization.

TIE-1 (tyrosine kinase with Ig and EGF homology domains 1) and TIE-2/Tek comprise a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) subfamily with unique structural characteristics: two immunoglobulin-like domains flanking three epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains and followed by three fibronectin type III-like repeats in the extracellular region and a split tyrosine kinase domain in the cytoplasmic region. These receptors are expressed primarily on endothelial and hematopoietic progenitor cells and play critical roles in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and hematopoiesis. Human TIE-1 cDNA encodes a 1122 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with an 18 residue putative signal peptide, a 726 residue extracellular domain and a 353 residue cytoplasmic domain. Two ligands, angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), which bind TIE-2 with high-affinity have been identified. Ang2 has been reported to act as an antagonist for Ang1. Mice engineered to overexpress Ang2 or to lack Ang1 or Tie-1 display similar angiogenic defects.

Rat and mouse FGF-9 show a very high homology to human FGF-9. The transcripts for FGF-9 have been found in brain and in kidney tissue. Fibroblast Growth Factor-9 is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF9 was isolated as a secreted factor that exhibits a growth-stimulating effect on cultured glial cells. In nervous system, this protein is produced mainly by neurons and may be important for glial cell development. Expression of the mouse homolog of this gene was found to be dependent on Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Mice lacking the homolog gene displayed a male-to-female sex reversal phenotype, which suggested a role in testicular embryogenesis Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 may have a role in glial cell growth and differentiation during development, gliosis during repair and regeneration of brain tissue after damage, differentiation and survival of neuronal cells, and growth stimulation of glial tumors.

CCDC104 also known as coiled-coil domain-containing protein 104 is a 342 amino acid protein that exists as two alternatively spliced isoforms. CCDC104 undergoes post-translational phosphorylation following DNA damage, most likely by either ATR or ATM. Among the diseases associated with CCDC104 are pancreatic cancer, and pancreatitis.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family. CXCL10 is secreted by several cell types in response to IFN. These cell types include monocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. CXCL10 has been attributed to several roles, such as chemoattraction for monocytes and T cells, promotion of T cell adhesion to endothelial cells, antitumor activity, and inhibition of bone marrow colony formation and angiogenesis. The gene for CXCL10 is located on human chromosome 4 in a cluster among several other CXC chemokines. This chemokine elicits its effects by binding to the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR3. The three-dimensional crystal structure of this chemokine has been determined under 3 different conditions to a resolution of up to 1.92A.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family. CXCL10 is secreted by several cell types. These cell types include monocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. CXCL10 has been attributed to several roles, such as chemoattraction for monocytes and T cells, promotion of T cell adhesion to endothelial cells, antitumor activity, and inhibition of bone marrow colony formation and angiogenesis. The gene for CXCL10 is located on human chromosome 4 in a cluster among several other CXC chemokines. This chemokine elicits its effects by binding to the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR3. The three-dimensional crystal structure of this chemokine has been determined under 3 different conditions to a resolution of up to 1.92A.

ISG15 ubiquitin-like Modifier is conjugated to the intracellular target proteins after IFN-alpha or IFN-beta stimulation. ISG15 enzymatic pathway is partially distinct from that of ubiquitin, differing in substrate specificity and interaction with ligating enzymes. ISG15 conjugation pathway uses a dedicated E1 enzyme, but seems to converge with the ub conjugation pathway at the level of a specific E2 enzyme. ISG15 protein targets include STAT1, SERPINA 3G/SPI2A, JAK1, MAPK3/ERK1, PLCG1, EIF2AK2/PKR, MX1/MXA, and RIG-1. Deconjugated by USP18/UBP43 shows specific chemotactic activity towards neutrophils and activates them to induce release of eosinophil chemotactic factors. ISG15 serves as a trans-acting binding factor directing the association of ligated target proteins to intermediate filaments. ISG15 plays a role in autocrine, paracrine and endocrine mechanisms, as in cell-to-cell signaling, possibly partly by inducing ifn-gamma secretion by monocytes and macrophages. ISG15 displays antiviral activity during viral infections. ISG15 in response to IFN-TAU secreted by the conceptus, ligates to and regulate proteins involved in the release of prostaglandin F2-alpha and thus prevent lysis of the corpus luteum and maintain the pregnancy. ISG15 shares several common properties with other ubiquitin-like molecules, but its activity is strongly regulated by precise signaling pathways that have a role in innate immunity.

Geminin is a 25 kDa nuclear protein, which inhibits DNA replication and is degraded during the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. Geminin controls replication by binding to the licensing factor Cdt1, and is involved in neural differentiation. In addition, Geminin directly interacts with Six3 and Hox homeodomain proteins during embryogenesis and inhibits their functions. Geminin can also promote DNA replication. Geminin has 2 roles in 2 different stages of the cell cycle: Geminin is a negative regulator of DNA replication during the “S phase” of the cell cycle. Inhibition of Geminin during the “S phase” (by RNAi) results in an additional round of replication of portions of the genome. During the “M phase” of the cell cycle (mitosis) Geminin stabilizes the replication factor Cdt1 promoting DNA replication during the next cell cycle. Moreover, inhibition of Geminin during mitosis (by RNAi) causes destabilization of Cdt1 protein and impairment of DNA replication during the next cell cycle. Geminin thus guarantees that only one round of replication occurs during each cell cycle. It was discovered that Geminin is overexpressed in a number of malignancies and cancer cell lines. This maintains the concept that Geminin has also a positive role in DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Geminin accumulates through S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle but is absent during the G1 phase. During the metaphase/anaphase transition of mitosis Geminin levels decrease.

PTGES3 takes part as a cochaperone and is involved in signal transduction.
PTGES3 is a molecular chaperone that localizes to genomic response elements in a hormone-dependent manner and disrupts receptor-mediated transcriptional activation, by promoting disassembly of transcriptional regulatory complexess. PTGES3 is necessary for appropriate functioning of the glucocorticoid and other steroid receptors.
PTGES3 localizes to genomic response elements in a hormone-dependent method and disrupts receptor-mediated transcriptional activation, by promoting disassembly of transcriptional regulatory complexes.

Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 2 isoform 1 (PYCR2) is a member of the pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase family. PYCR2 protein catalyzes the conversion of pyrroline-5-carboxylate to proline, which is the last step in proline biosynthesis. The three substrates of the PYCR2 enzyme are L-proline, NAD+, and NADP+, while its four products are 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate, NADH, NADPH, and H+.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a dominant inherited syndrome characterized by the predisposition to develop various kinds of benign and malignant tumors, including clear cell renal carcinomas, pheochromocytomas and hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system and retina. VHL syndrome is caused by germline mutation in the VHL tumor suppressor, and VHL tumors are associated with loss or mutation of the remaining wild-type allele. VHL has two domains: a roughly 100-residue NH2-terminal domain rich in b sheet (b-domain) and a smaller a-helical domain (a-domain), held together by two linkers and a polar interface. VHL protein is also involved in the degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF).

VPS28 is a subunit of the ESCRT-I complex (endosomal complexes required for transport) involved in the sorting of ubiquitinated proteins. VPS28 is involved in endosomal sorting of cell surface receptors using a multivesicular body/late endosome pathway. VSP28 binding with the TSG101 may have significant roles in budding of Retroviruses, such as HIV-1 and Ebola virus.
VSP28 interacts with TSG101, VPS37B, VPS37C, FAM125A and FAM125B, and also with VPS36, this interaction mediates the association with the ESCRT-II complex. Furthermore it interacts with SNF8 and VPS25 and CEP55.

RANGRF is a protein which acts as a guanine nucleotide release factor in mouse and regulates the expression and function of the Nav1.5 cardiac sodium channel in human. RANGRF also controls the intracellular trafficking of RAN. In cardiac cells, the RANGRF appears to regulate the cell surface localization of SCN5A.

Ras-related protein Rap-2b (RAP2B) is a part of RAS-related genes family. RAP2B has a threonine residue at aa 61Unlike normal ras proteins which have a nontransforming glutamine residue at that position. The threonine residue makes the intrinsic GTPase activity for Rap2B lower, by this means allows RAP2B to exist in the activated state for a longer period of time than normal ras proteins. RAP2B is a platelet protein which is activated by thrombin and involved in platelet activation. RAP2B may be a candidate oncogene which takes part in carcinogenesis through activation of NF-kappaB pathway.

Zinc Finger Protein 689 (ZNF689) is a member of the krueppel C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family. The ZNF689 protein contains 12 C2H2-type zinc fingers and 1 KRAB domain. ZNF689 may be involved in transcriptional regulation.