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FGF-23 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. FGF-23 inhibits renal tubular phosphate transport. The FGF-23 gene was identified by its mutations associated with autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR), an inherited phosphate wasting disorder. Abnormally high level expression of FGF-23 was found in oncogenic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia (OHO), a phenotypically similar disease caused by abnormal phosphate metabolism. FGF-23 mutations have also been shown to cause familial tumoral calcinosis with hyperphosphatemia.

RELM-beta (Resistin-Like Molecule-beta) is a member of a recently identified family of secreted proteins containing a conserved cystein-rich C-terminus. The RELM family consists of resistin (also called FIZZ3), RELM-alfa (FIZZ1), RELM-beta (FIZZ2) and RELM-gamma. Only resisistin and RELM-beta were found in humans whereas all four RELM family members were identified in rodents.
RELM-beta appears to be produced as a homodimer exclusively by intestinal goblet cells and can be found in high quantities in stool. Remarkably, stool of germ-free mice displaying sterile intestinal tract does not contain RELM-beta until bacterial colonization takes place after pathogen-free mice entered natural environment. Some, but not all, colon carcinoma cell lines secrete RELM-beta into the cell culture supernatant.
The physiological function of RELM-beta is not known. High doses of recombinant RELM-beta showed hyperglycemic effects including lowered glucose disposal and increased hepatic glucose production in mice.

Fatty acid binding protein 9 (FABP9) belongs to the fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) which are a family of small, extremely conserved, cytoplasmic proteins to bind long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. FABP9 is found in midpachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, and comprises part of the perinuclear theca. FABP9 probably links intracellular membranes and signals abnormal sperm formation during spermatogenesis.

Alpha crystallins are composed of two gene products; alpha-A and alpha-B, for acidic and basic, respectively. Alpha crystallins can be induced by heat shock and are members of the small heat shock protein (sHSP also known as the HSP20). They act as molecular chaperones and hold them in in large soluble aggregates. These heterogeneous aggregates consist of 30-40 subunits; the alpha-A and alpha-B subunits have a 3:1 ratio, respectively. Two additional function of -crystallins are an autokinase activity and participation in the intracellular architecture. Alpha-B is expressed widely in many tissues and organs and occurs in many neurological diseases.

PDCD12 (AVEN) represents a new class of cell death regulator. PDCD12 is a conserved intracellular membrane protein which blocks apoptosis impeded by Apaf-1 mediated caspase activation. BAD and Bcl-2 also interact with PDCD12 to prevent apoptosis. PDCD12 is expressed in a wide variety of normal tissues including the heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, liver, testis, and also in diseases such as cancer.

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.

USH1C gene product Harmonin, is a scaffold protein which functions in the assembly of Usher protein complexes. Harmonin is able to attach to various proteins in cell membranes and coordinate their activities. Harmonin contains PDZ domains, a coiled-coil region with a bipartite nuclear localization signal and a PEST degradation sequence. USH1C is expressed in the small intestine, colon, kidney, eye, vestibule of the inner ear and weakly in the pancreas.
Mutations in the USH1C gene cause the Usher syndrome type I which is an autosomal recessive sensory defect involving congenital profound sensorineural deafness, vestibular dysfunction, and blindness due to progressive retinitis pigmentosa. Sensorineural deafness is caused by damage to the neural receptors of the inner ear, the nerve pathways to the brain, or the area of the brain that receives sound information. The 3 types of the Usher syndrome (1- 3) are distinguished by age at onset and differences in auditory and vestibular function. USH1C gene defects cause of non-syndromic sensorineural deafness autosomal recessive type 18 (DFNB18), is a form of sensorineural hearing loss.

Biglycan (BGN) is a small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan which takes part in assembly of collagen fibrils and muscle regeneration. BGN is closely correlated in structure to two other small proteoglycans, decorin and fibromodulin. BGN interacts with several proteins involved in muscular dystrophy, including alpha-dystroglycan, alpha- and gamma-sarcoglycan and collagen VI. BGN is also critical for the assembly of the dystrophin-associated protein complex.

Renin is a highly specific endopeptidase which generates angiotensin I from angiotensinogen in the plasma. angiotensin I is an important regulator of blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Renin initiates a cascade of reactions that produce an elevation of blood pressure and increased sodium retention by the kidney.

Erythropoietin or EPO is a hormone (glycoprotein), part of the type I cytokine group of proteins. EPO is found mainly in the kidney tissue, produced from fibroblast-like cortical interstitial cells near the proximal tubules. EPO is also present in the blood, where it acts as red cell production regulator, by the promotion of differentiation of erythroid and thereby starts hemoglobin synthesis. Furthermore, EPO has neuroprotective activity towards brain injuries & anti-apoptotic activity in different tissues.

Fractalkine soluble form is chemotactic for t-cells and monocytes, but not for neutrophils. Fractalkine membrane-bound form promotes adhesion of those leukocytes to endothelial cells. Fractalkine regulates leukocyte adhesion and migration processes at the endothelium and binds to CX3CR1. Fractalkine gene is located on human chromosome 16 along with some CC chemokines known as CCL17 and CCL22.

HB-EGF is an EGF related growth factor which signals via the EGF receptor, and stimulates the proliferation of SMC (smooth muscle cells), fibroblasts, epithelial cells and keratinocytes. HB-EGF is expressed in various cell types and tissues, including vascular endothelial cells and SMC, macrophages, skeletal muscle, keratinocytes and particular tumor cells. HB-EGF’s ability to explicitly bind heparin and heparin sulfate proteoglycans is dissimilar from other EGF-like molecules, and might be related to the enhanced mitogenic activity, relative to EGF, that HB-EGF exerts on smooth muscle cells.

LYVE1 is a selective marker of the lymphatic endothelium & a surface endocytic receptor for both soluble and immobilized hyaluronan, LYVE1 is an extracellular glycosaminoglycan that plays a role in cell adhesion and migration. LYVE1 functions in lympathic hyaluronan transport and is involved in tumor metastasis. Recombinant human LYVE1 was expressed in and purified by conventional chromatography techniques. The normal adult human choroid is endowed with a significant number of LYVE-1 positive macrophages. LYVE-1 is expressed in a reticulum cell neoplasm in an axillary lymph node. This reticulum cell sarcoma is a lymphatic sinus lining cell sarcoma which might represent another subtype of reticulum cell sarcomas.
LYVE-1 immunohistochemistry is a functional method for detecting lymphatics invaded by cancer cells, and detailed examination of the submucosa around the tumor is important for predicting LN metastasis.

Peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase A (msrA) is an enzyme which catalyzes the reversible oxidation-reduction of methionine sulfoxide in proteins to methionine. MSRA may have a significant function as a repair enzyme for proteins which have been inactivated by oxidation.

The MCFD2-LMAN1 complex forms an explicit cargo receptor for the ER-to-Golgi transport of selected proteins. MCFD2 is involved in the secretion of coagulation factors. MCFD2 is expressed by neural stem/progenitor cells of the hippocampus, and localized to region where neurogenesis persists throughout life. MCFD2 prevents NSC cell death and maintains stem cell characteristics. MCFD2 forms a complex with LAMN1 that facilitates the transport of coagulation factors V and VIII from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus through an endoplasmic reticulum Golgi intermediate compartment. Mutations in the MCFD2 cause Factor V and Factor VIII combined deficiency.

FLT3 ligand is a receptor for the fl cytokine has a tyrosine-protein kinase activity & a growth factor that regulates proliferation of early hematopoietic cells. Flt3-Ligand synergizes with other CSFs and interleukins to induce growth and differentiation.

GLRX1 has a glutathione-disulfide oxidoreductase activity in the presence of nadph and glutathione reductase. reduces low molecular weight disulfides and proteins. Glutaredoxin is a glutathione (GSH)-dependent hydrogen donor for ribonucleotide reductase and also catalyzes glutathione-disulfide oxidoreduction reactions in the presence of NADPH and glutathione reductase. GLRX1 is multifunctional enzyme with glutathione-dependent oxidoreductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. The disulfide bond functions as an electron carrier in the glutathione-dependent synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides by the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. In addition, it is also involved in reducing cytosolic protein- and non-protein-disulfides in a coupled system with glutathione reductase. Required for resistance to reactive oxygen species (ROS) by directly reducing hydroperoxides and for the detoxification of ROS-mediated damage.

POU2AF1 is a lymphocyte specific transcription coactivator protein. POU2AF1 cooperates only with the Oct1/2 proteins using sub domains in the POU domain of the Oct1/2 proteins, increasing their transcriptional efficiency. Even though POU2AF1 have no basic ability to bind DNA, it links firmly with the octomer motif in the presence of Oct1 and Oct2. POU2AF1 is expressed at maximum levels in spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes.

Guanosine monophosphate reductase (GMPR) catalyzes the irreversible NADPH-dependent deamination of GMP to IMP. GMPR acts in the conversion of nucleobase, nucleoside and nucleotide derivatives of G to A nucleotides, and in upholding the intracellular balance of A and G nucleotides. In addition, the GMPR protein functions in the re-utilization of free intracellular bases and purine nucleosides.

GSTP1 is a polymorphic gene encoding active, functionally different GSTP1 variant proteins that are believed to function in xenobiotic metabolism and have a part in susceptibility to cancer, and other diseases. GSTP1 is a glutathione S-transferase belonging to the pi class. GST family enzymes play a significant role in detoxification by catalyzing the conjugation of many hydrophobic and electrophilic compounds with reduced glutathione. Based upon the biochemical, immunologic and structural properties of the soluble GSTs they are grouped into 4 main classes: alpha, mu, pi, and theta. The GSTP1 enzyme acts by catalyzing the reaction of glutathione with an acceptor molecule to form a Sulfur-substituted glutathione. The reactions employing glutathione contribute the transformation of a broad range of electrophiles, including reactive products of lipid, protein, carcinogens, therapeutic drugs, environmental toxins, and products of oxidative stress.
The GSTP1 inactivation through CpG hypermethylation is frequent in pituitary adenomas and may be a factor in aggressive pituitary tumor behavior. GSTP1 is may be a transcriptional target of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Single-nucleotide polymorphism in GSTP1 is linked to modified protein binding, which influence GSTP1's contribution to carcinogen and drug metabolism, and possibly disease pathogenesis and/or drug response. GST-pi might have central roles in proliferation of androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells.

Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 7 (VAMP7) is a member of the synaptobrevin family. VAMP7 is a transmembrane protein, which is a member of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) family. VAMP7 is involved in the targeting and/or fusion of transport vesicles to their target membrane during transport of proteins from the early endosome to the lysosome. VAMP7 localizes to late endosomes and lysosomes and is involved in the fusion of transport vesicles to their target membranes. VAMP7 is essential for heterotypic fusion of late endosomes with lysosomes and homotypic lysosomal fusion. It is also necessary for calcium regulated lysosomal exocytosis. In addition, VAMP7 is involved in the export of chylomicrons from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cis Golgi. Furthermore, VAMP7 is needed for exocytosis of mediators during eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation, and target cell killing by natural killer cells.

Ras-related protein Ral-A (RALA) is a member of the small GTPase superfamily, Ras family of proteins. RALA mediates a distinct downstream signaling pathway from Ras which facilitates cellular transformation. Furthermore, RALA is thought to be involved in various signaling cascades, including regulation of the cytoskeleton, vesicle trafficking, and endocytosis.

Regulation of nuclear pre-mRNA domain-containing protein 1B (RPRD1B) interacts with phosphorylated C-terminal heptapeptide repeat domain (CTD) of the largest RNA polymerase II subunit POLR2A, and participates in dephosphorylation of the CTD. RPRD1B stimulates binding of RNA polymerase II to the CCDN1 promoter and to the termination region before the poly-A site but decreases its binding after the poly-A site. RPRD1B inhibits RNA polymerase II from reading through the 3' end termination site and may allow it to be drafted back to the promoter through promotion of the formation of a chromatin loop. In addition, RPRD1B enhances the transcription of several other cell cycle-related genes including CDK2, CDK4, CDK6 and cyclin-E but not CDKN1A, CDKN1B or cyclin-A. RPRD1B also promotes cell proliferation.