Search results

RNMT is a widely expressed nuclear protein which is a member of the mRNA cap methyltransferase family. Cap-dependent mRNA translation requires the methylation of the mRNA guanosine cap by RNMT. RNMT catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from AdoMet (S-adenosylmethionine) to the GpppN end of the growing mRNA at the N-7 position, thus producing AdoHyc (S-adenosylhomocysteine) and m7GpppN terminated RNA.

TARC cDNA encodes a 94 amino acid precursor protein with a 23 amino acid residue signal peptide that is cleaved off to generate the 71 amino acid residue mature secreted protein. Along with CC chemokine family members, CCL-17 has approximately 24-29% amino acid sequence identity with RANTES, MIP-1a, MIP-1b, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3 and I-309. TARC is expressed in thymus, and at a lower level in the lung, colon, and small intestine. TARC is in addition transiently expressed in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Recombinant TARC has been shown to be chemotactic for T cell lines but not monocytes or neutrophils. CCL-17 is a specific functional ligand for CCR4, a receptor that is selectively expressed on T cells. CCL17 is one of a few Cys-Cys (CC) cytokine genes clustered on the q arm of chromosome 16. CCL17 shows chemotactic activity for T lymphocytes, but not monocytes or granulocytes. CCL17 binds to chemokine receptors CCR4 and CCR8. This chemokine plays important roles in T cell development in thymus as well as in trafficking and activation of mature T cells.

Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factors are cytokines that act in hematopoiesis by controlling the production, differentiation, and function of 2 related white cell populations of the blood, the granulocytes and the monocytes-macrophages. CSF-1 induces cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. It plays a role in immunological defenses, bone metabolism, lipoproteins clearance, fertility and pregnancy.

AKR1C1 transfers progesterone to its inactive state or in other words catalyzes the reaction of 20-alpha-hydroxy progesterone (20-alpha-OHP). In the liver and intestine. AKR1C1 transfers bile and monitors the intrahepatic bile acid concentration though it has a low bile-binding ability. AKR1C1 participates in myelin formation. AKR1C1 is part of the aldo/keto reductase superfamily, which has over 40 known enzymes which catalyze the conversion of aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols by utilizing NADH and/or NADPH as cofactors thus display overlapping but distinct substrate specificity.

Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of zinc and calcium-dependent endopeptidases that break down extracellular matrix proteins. The MMP9 is secreted as a 92kDa zymogen. Cleavage of ProMMP-9 results in the active enzyme, having a molecular weight of approximately 82kDa. MMP9 is composed of the following domains: a gelatin-binding domain consisting of three fibronectin type II units, a catalytic domain containing the zinc-binding site, a proline-rich type V collagen-homologous domain and a hemopexin-like domain. MMP9 is produced by the several cell types: monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, osteoclasts and endothelial cells. MMP9 is involved in inflammatory responses, tissue remodeling, wound healing, tumor growth and metastasis. MMP9 may also play an important part in local proteolysis of the extracellular matrix and in leukocyte migration, as well as in bone osteoclastic resorption. MMP9 cleaves type IV and type V collagens into large C-terminal three qu

p38a/SAPK2 is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. This kinase is activated by various environmental stresses and proinflammatory cytokines. The activation requires its phosphorylation by MAP kinase kinases (MKKs), or its autophosphorylation triggered by the interaction of MAP3K7IP1/TAB1 protein with this kinase. The substrates of this kinase include transcription regulator ATF2, MEF2C, and MAX, cell cycle regulator CDC25B, and tumor suppressor p53, which suggest the roles of this kinase in stress related transcription and cell cycle regulation, as well as in genotoxic stress response. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

SARS Coronavirus is an enveloped virus containing three outer structural proteins, namely the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins. Spike (S)-glycoprotein of the virus interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to allow viral entry into susceptible target cells. Accordingly, S-protein plays an important role in virus infection cycle and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies.It has recently been shown that SARS is caused by a human coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are the major cause of upper respiratory tract illness in humans, such as the common cold. Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses, featuring the largest viral RNA genomes known to date (27-31 kb). The first step in coronavirus infection is binding of the viral spike protein, a 139-kDa protein, to certain receptors on host cells. The spike protein is the main surface antigen of the coronavirus. The most prominent protein in the culture supernatants infected with SARS virus is a 46 kDa nucleocapsid protein. This suggests that the nucleocapsid protein is a major immunogen that may be useful for early diagnostics.

VEGF-C, also known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Related Protein (VRP), is a recently discovered VEGF growth factor family member that is most closely related to VEGF-D. Human VEGF-C cDNA encodes a pre-pro-protein of 416 amino acids residues. It is almost identical to the mouse VEGF-C protein. Similar to VEGF-D, VEGF-C has a VEGF homology domain spanning the middle third of the precursor molecule and long N- and C-terminal extensions. In adults, VEGF-C is highly expressed in heart, placenta, ovary and small intestine. Recombinant human VEGF-C, lacking the N- and C-terminal extensions and containing only the middle VEGF homology domain, forms primarily non-covalently linked dimers. This protein is a ligand for both VEGFR-2/KDR and VEGFR-3/FLT-4. Since VEGFR-3 is strongly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells, it has been postulated that VEGF-C is involved in the regulation of the growth and/or differentiation of lymphatic endothelium. Although recombinant human VEGF-C is also a mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, it is much less potent than VEGF-A.

Estrogen receptors α (ERα, ER; NR3A1) is a member of the steroid hormone receptor family. ERα is a ligand-activated transcription factor. ERα contain DNA binding and ligand binding domains. ERα is expressed in a wide variety of tissues, including ovary, uterus, breast, prostate, testis, epididymis, bones, bladder, kidney, heart, vessel wall, pituitary gland and hypothalamus. ER plays a variety of important roles in the maintenance of the reproductive, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and central nervous systems. The natural ligand for ER is 17β-estradiol, the classical estrogenic compound. The binding of estrogen to ER induces a conformational change and triggers a cascade of events, including dissociation from heat shock proteins, receptor dimerization, phosphorylation and the association of the hormone activated receptor with specific regulatory elements in target genes.

Human Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) catalyzes the reaction between superoxide anions and hydrogen to yield molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. SOD protects the cell against dangerous levels of superoxide. SOD binds copper and zinc ions and is 1 of 3 isozymes accountable for destroying free superoxide radicals in the body. The encoded protein neutralizes supercharged oxygen molecules, which can damage cells if their levels are not controlled.

The cytokine IL-1 alpha or hematopoietin 1 is a member to the interleukin 1 family, encoded by the IL1A gene in humans. Essentially Il-1 is in charge of inflammation and the rising of fever and sepsis. In order to disturb the mentioned processes and treatment for diseases, inhibitors for Interleukin 1 alpha are being developed. Neutrophils and macrophages are the main activators of IL-1 alpha, as well as endothelial and epithelial cells. By binding to the il1 receptor it is a major part in the immune response regulation. In the activation process of tumor necrosis factor-alpha the IL1A has a part as well, and has physiological, metabolic and hematopoietic activities.

Interleukin-3 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced primarily by activated T cells.
IL-3 is thought to function via specific cell surface receptors to stimulate the proliferation, differentiation and survival of haematopoietic cell lines. IL-3 has also been shown to affect the functional activity of a variety of other cell types including mast cells, eosinophils, megakaryocytes and basophils.

RAB, Member RAS Oncogene Family-Like 5 (RABL5) belongs to the Ras superfamily of small GTP-binding proteins. The Ras-related superfamily of guanine nucleotide binding proteins includes the R-Ras, Rap, Ral/Rec and Rho/Rab subfamilies. Rab proteins have an essential role in endocytosis or in biosynthetic protein transport. The transporting process of newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to various stacks of the Golgi complex and to secretory vesicles includes the movement of carrier vesicles and requires Rab protein function.

Rnase P protein, AKA rnpA, is an important enzyme consisting of the C5 protein (which encoded by rnpA) and the catalytic M1 RNA (encoded by rnpB) subunits. rnpA is ribonucleoprotein that catalyzes the removal of the 50- leader elements of precursor tRNAs and generates the mature 50-end of tRNAs. This step is critical for theformation of functional tRNA molecules in bacteria, archaea and eukarya. More importantly, it has lately been established that RNase P is essential for the endonucleolytic separation of certain polycistronic tRNA transcripts such as valV valW, leuQ leuP leuV and secG leuU. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the essential function of RNase P might be related to the complete absence of a particular tRNAthat was dependent on the enzyme for initial separation from polycistronic transcripts.

ACY1 is a cytosolic, homodimeric, zinc-binding enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of acylated L-amino acids to L-amino acids and acyl group, and has been postulated to take part in the catabolism and salvage of acylated amino acids. Defects in ACY1 are the source of aminoacylase-1 deficiency (ACY1D). ACY1D results in a metabolic disorder manifesting with encephalopathy, unspecific psychomotor delay, psychomotor delay with atrophy of the vermis and syringomyelia, marked muscular hypotonia or normal clinical features. Epileptic seizures are a frequent feature.

Speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) belongs to the Tdpoz family containing one N-terminal MATH (Meprin and TRAF homology) domain and one C-terminal BTB/POZ domain. SPOP inhibits IPF1/PDX1 transactivation of established target promoters, may be by recruiting a repressor complex. SPOP is involved in ubiquitinylation and protein degradation as a result of an interaction with CUL-3.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) or classical MAP kinases are widely expressed protein kinaseintracellular signalingmolecules which are involved in functions including the regulation of meiosis, mitosis, and postmitotic functions in differentiated cells. Many different stimuli, including growth factors, cytokines, virusinfection, ligands for heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors, transforming agents, and carcinogens, activate the ERK pathway.
The term, "extracellular signal-regulated kinases", is sometimes used as a synonym for mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), but has more recently been adopted for a specific subset of the mammalianMAPK family. In the MAPK/ERK pathway, Rasactivates c-Raf, followed by MEKand then MAPK1/2 (below). Ras is typically activated by growth hormones through receptor tyrosine kinasesand GRB2/SOS, but may also receive other signals. ERKs are known to activate many transcription factors and some downstream protein kinases. Disruption of the ERK pathway is common in cancers, especially Ras, c-Raf and receptors such as HER2.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) is also known as "extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1" (ERK1). Transgenic gene knockoutmice lacking MAPK3 are viable and it is thought that MAPK1 can fulfill most MAPK3 functions in most cells. The main exception is in T cells. Mice lacking MAPK3 have reduced T cell development past the CD4+CD8+ stage.

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that acts as a growth and differentiation factor for both B cells and eosinophils. This cytokine is a main regulator of eosinopoiesis, eosinophil maturation and activation. The elevated production of this cytokine is reported to be related to asthma or hypereosinophilic syndromes. The receptor of this cytokine is a heterodimer, whose beta subunit is shared with the receptors for interleukine 3 (IL3) and colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2/GM-CSF). This gene, together with those for interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 13 (IL13), and CSF2, form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5. This cytokine, IL4, and IL13 are found to be regulated coordinately by long-range regulatory elements spread over 120 kilobases on chromosome 5q31.

Murine IL-36a belongs to the IL-1 family that includes IL-1b, IL-1a, IL-1ra, IL-18, IL-36ra (IL1F5), IL-36b (IL1F8), IL-36g (IL1F9), IL-37 (IL1F7) and IL-38 (IL-1F10). The IL-1 family members display a 12 b-strand, b-trefoil configuration, and are thought to have ascended from a mutual ancestral gene. Murine IL-36a is a 160 amino acid intracellular and secreted protein which holds no signal sequence, no prosegment and no potential N-linked glycosylation sites. IL-36a is released as a reaction to LPS and the cell ATP-induced activation of the P2X7 receptor.
Mouse to human, full length IL-36a/IL-1F6 shares 54% aa sequence homology. IL-36a is mostly found in skin and lymphoid tissues, but also in fetal brain, trachea, stomach and intestine.

Human Ubquitin-conjugating enzyme 7 (UbcH7) is a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) mediating c-fos degradation, transcription factor NF-B maturation, and human papilloma virus-mediated p53 and Myc protein degradation, in vitro. The ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) are essential components of the post-translational protein ubiquitination pathway, mediating the transfer of activated ubiquitin to substrate proteins. The human UBE2L1-UBE2L4 gene could potentially encode different isoforms of the UbcH7. UBE2L3 gene, located at chromosome 22q11.2, is the only identical family member with introns and encodes a polypeptide sequence identical to that of UbcH7.

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).

VSNL1 is a member of the visinin/recoverin subfamily of neuronal calcium sensor proteins. VILIP1 is strongly expressed in granule cells of the cerebellum where it associates with membranes in a calcium-dependent manner and modulates intracellular signaling pathways of the central nervous system by directly or indirectly regulating the activity of adenylyl cyclase. Changes in cellular expression of VSNL1 were found in hipppocampi of schizophrenics, since more interneurons showed immunoreactivity.
VILIP1 is expressed in pancreatic beta-cells. VILIP-1 interacts with cell membrane and actin-based cytoskeleton. VSNL1 modulates cAMP-accumulation in C6 glioma cells. HLP3 modulates cGMP-accumulation in transfected neural cells and cerebellar granule neurons.

Ara h 8.0101 which is a part of the PR-10 protein family is a Bet v 1-homologous panallergen. Ara h 8.0101 is cross-reactive with Gly m 4 from soy bean and Bet v 1 from silver birch. Ara h 8.0101 is responsible for oral allergy syndrome and also has low stability to roasting and no stability to gastric digestion.

Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 1 Inhibitor (PCSK1N) takes part in the control of the neuroendocrine secretory pathway. PCSK1N inhibits prohormone convertase 1, which regulates the proteolytic cleavage of neuroendocrine peptide precursors. PCSK1Nslows down convertase-mediated processing of proopiomelanocortin and proenkephalin and also monitors the intracellular timing of PCSK1.