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Maltose Binding Protein is a member of the maltose/maltodextrin system of E.Coli, which is accountable for the uptake and efficient catabolism of maltodextrins. The maltose/maltodextrin is a complex regulatory and transport system involving many proteins and protein complexes.
MBP elevates the yield of its fusion partner in many cases and is often able to promote the solubility of polypeptides to which it is fused.

Cellular Repressor of E1A-Stimulated Genes 1 (CREG1) both activates and inhibits gene expression to stimulate cellular proliferation and hinder differentiation. CREG1 antagonizes transcriptional activation and cellular transformation by E1A. CREG1 shares partial sequence similarity with E1A and binds both the general transcription factor TBP and the tumor suppressor pRb in vitro. CREG1 contributes to the transcriptional control of cell growth and differentiation.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice with experimentally induced allergic pulmonary inflammation contains a novel 9.4 kDa cysteine-rich secreted protein, RELM-alpha (FIZZ1, found in inflammatory zone). RELM-alpha is a secreted protein that has a restricted tissue distribution with highest levels in adipose tissue stroma. Murine RELM-alpha (FIZZ1) is the founding member of a new gene family including two other murine genes expressed, respectively, in intestinal crypt epithelium (RELM-beta) and white adipose tissue (Resistin), and two related human genes.
RELMalpha inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes but has no effect on proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. RELMalpha is able to form heterooligomers with resistin but not RELMbeta. Since RELMalpha is expressed by adipose tissue and it is a secreted factor, our findings suggest that RELMalpha may be involved in the control of the adipogenesis as well as in the process of muscle differentiation.
In the lung, RELM-alpha is induced by hypoxia and was renamed as hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF). HIMF strongly activated Akt phosphorylation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 (10 micromol/L) inhibited HIMF-activated Akt phosphorylation. It also inhibited HIMFstimulated RPSM proliferation. Thus, the PI3K/Akt pathway, at least in part, mediates the proliferative effect of HIMF. Further studies showed that HIMF had angiogenic and vasoconstrictive properties. HIMF increased pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance. Further studies suggest that HIMF regulates apoptosis and may participate in lung alveolarization and maturation.

Zwilch Kinetochore Protein which is also known as ZWILCH is a part of the ZWILCH family. ZWILCH is a vital part of the mitotic checkpoint. ZWILCH prevents the cells from exiting mitosis prematurely. ZWILCH is also necessary for the assembly of the dyneindynactin and MAD1-MAD2 complexes onto kinetochores.

RGS10 is a member of the RGS family that regulate molecules which perform as GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) for G alpha subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. RGS proteins can disengage G protein subunits of the Gi alpha, Go alpha and Gq alpha subtypes. They drive G proteins into their inactive GDP-bound forms. All RGS proteins share a conserved 120-amino acid sequence termed the RGS domain. The nucleus localized RGS10 is associates specifically with the activated forms of the two related G-protein subunits, G-alphai3 and G-alphaz but is unable to cooperate with the structurally and functionally distinct G-alpha subunits.

Integrin Beta 3 Binding Protein (ITGB3BP1) is a broadly expressed protein which contains a DD1 or RepD1 domain and an LXXLL motif. ITGB3BP1 functions as a nuclear receptor coactivator while induced by estrogen. ITGB3BP1 is also relates with the CENP-A-CAD complex that is engaged in mitotic progression, the assembly of kinetochore proteins and chromosome segregation. ITGB3BP1 behave s as a transcriptional corepressor via its interaction with the NFKB1 NF-kappa-B subunit by interfering with the transactivation domain of NFKB1.

Mouse MIP-1 gamma is 75% identical in its amino acid compostion as compared to the rat specie. MIP-1 gamma is a CC chemokine localized in murine blood and a widespread range of murine tissues, without having an identified human homolog. MIP-1 gamma signals through the CCR1 receptor. MIP-1 gamma chemoattracts neutrophils and also inhibits colony formation of bone marrow myeloid immature progenitors. MIP-1 gamma has six cysteines including the four highly conserved cysteine residues present in CC chemokines.

EPCAM is a carcinoma-associated antigen and belongs to a family which includes at least 2 type I membrane proteins. The EPCAM protein has a role in embryonic stem cells proliferation and differentiation. EPCAM is used as a target for immunotherapy treatment of human carcinomas. EPCAM is expressed on most normal epithelial cells and gastrointestinal carcinomas and acts as a homotypic calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule. Epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EPCAM) can act as a physical homophilic interaction molecule between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) at the mucosal epithelium for supplying immunological barrier as a first line of defense against mucosal infection. EPCAM gene mutations result in congenital tufting enteropathy.

Cystatin 5 (CST5) is a novel member of the cystatin superfamily, which encompasses proteins that contain multiple cystatin-like sequences. Some members are active cysteine protease inhibitors, while others have lost or possibly never had this inhibitory activity. The superfamily is comprised of 3 inhibitory families: the type 1 cystatins (stefins), type 2 cystatins and the kininogens. Type 2 cystatin proteins are a class of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in various human fluids and secretions.

S100A6 is a member of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 proteins are localized either in the cytoplasm or the nucleus of a wide range of cells. S100 proteins are involved in the regulation of a number of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. There are at least 13 members in the S100 gene family, which are located as a cluster on chromosome 1q21. S100A6 function in stimulation of prolactin secretion and exocytosis. Chromosomal rearrangements and altered expression of the S100A6 gene are implicated in melanoma.

Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins (MIP) belong to the family of chemotactic cytokines known as chemokines. In humans, there are two major forms, MIP-1a and MIP-1b that are now officially named CCL3 and CCL4 respectively. Both are major factors produced by macrophages after they are stimulated with bacterial endotoxins. They activate human granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophilsand basophils) which can lead to acute neutrophilic inflammation. They also induce the synthesis and release of other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6 and TNF-a from fibroblasts and macrophages. The genes for CCL3 and CCL4 are both located on human chromosome 17.

Dendritic cell and monocyte chemokinelike protein (DMC/CXCL17/VEGF-correlated chemokine 1/VCC1), is a secreted molecule with a size and predicted 3-dimensional folding pattern similar to that of chemokines CXCL8/IL8 and CXCL14/BRAK. CXCL17 is constitutively generated by airway and intestinal epithelium. CXCL17 induces the chemotaxis of quiescent, but not LPS-activated peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cells, and it also binds these cells specifically. The expression of CXCL17 is increased in endothelial cells when they are induced to form tubes in vitro. CXCL17, CXCL1/GRO and CXCL8/IL8 which have roles in angiogenesis, show significantly correlated expression with that of VEGF in primary lung, breast and esophageal tumors. Therefore, CXCL17 is suggested to have a role in tumor angiogenesis. The mature Rat CXCL17 shares 82%, 71% amino acid sequence identity with mouse, human CXCL17, respectively.

SERPINI1 (Neuroserpin) is an inhibitory serpin which is expressed primarily in the central nervous system. Even though the physiological target of SERPINI1 is still vague, amassed evidence suggest that SERPINI1 has an imperative role in controlling proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) during synaptogenesis and the subsequent development of neuronal plasticity. The neuroprotective role of SERPINI1 has been demonstrated in transgenic mice lacking SERPINI1 expression. The deficiency of SERPINI1 in these mice is linked with motor neuron disease characterized by axonal degradation. In humans, defects in SERPINI1, caused by point mutations in the neuroserpin gene, trigger a hereditary disorder known as the familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies (FENIB).

Eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 epsilon-1 (EEF1E1) shares sequence similarity with the amino-terminal ends of the Beta and Gamma subunits of EF-1. By specifically interacting with MetRS, EEF1E1 binds to a macromolecular tRNA synthtase complex which catalyzes the ligation of specific amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. Upon DNA damage, EEF1E1 translocates to the nucleus where it interacts with ATM and ATR, resulting in p53 activation.

ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (ATPIF1) attaches to the C-terminal region of a beta subunit of the F1-ATPase at low pH values and, through interference of the beta and gamma subunit interaction, ATPIF1 controls the activity of the F1 (the hydrophilic catalytic core), F0 (the membrane embedded protein channel) ATPase. ATPIF1 overexpression in a number of human carcinomas additionally reinforces its participation in oncogenesis and offers insight into the transformed metabolism of cancer cells, including the reprogramming of energy metabolism in relation to glycolysis. Endogenous F1F(o)-ATPase inhibitor curbing ATP depletion when the mitochondrial membrane potential drops below a threshold and the F1F(o)-ATP synthase begins hydrolyzing ATP to pump protons out of the mitochondrial matrix.

Eukaryotic Translation Elongation Factor 1 Gamma (EEF1G) takes part in anchoring the complex to additional cellular components. EEF1G is a multi-protein complex which is in charge of the delivery of aminoacyl-tRNAs to the ribosome. Over expression of EEF1G is linked with pancreatic cancer, due to the role of EEF1G protein in the oncogenic transformation process.

Eukaryotic Translation Elongation Factor 2 (EEF2) which is necessary factor for protein synthesis is a part of the GTP-binding translation elongation factor family. EEF2 catalyzes the GTP-dependent ribosomal translocation step during translation elongation. EEF2 is also catalyzes the coordinated movement of the mRNA as well as the 2 tRNA molecules and conformational changes in the ribosome. EF-2 kinase phosporylation inactivates the EEF2 protein.

Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3, also known as SOCS3 belongs to the SOCS family; in addition SOCS3 is a member of the STAT-induced STAT inhibitor (SSI). The SSI family members are cytokine-inducible negative regulators of cytokine signaling. The expression of SOCS3 is induced by different cytokines, including IL6 and IL10. SOCS3 can bind to JAK2 kinase, and inhibit the activity of JAK2 kinase. Studies of the mouse counterpart of SOCS3 have shown the roles of SOCS3 in the negative regulation of fetal liver hematopoiesis, and placental development.

Eotaxin-2, also called MPIF2 & Ckb6, is a novel CC chemokine produced by activated monocytes and T lymphocytes. Eotaxin-2 selectively chemoattracts cells expressing CCR3 including eosinophils, basophils, Th2 T cells, mast cells, and certain subsets of dendritic cells. Furthermore, Eotaxin-2 inhibits the proliferation of multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cells. The mature protein, which includes C-terminal truncation, contains 78 amino acids (92 amino acids for the mouse homolog, without C-terminal truncation).
CCL24 functions as a chemotactic chemokine for resting t-lymphocytes, and eosinophils. CCL24 has lower chemotactic activity for neutrophils but none for monocytes and activated lymphocytes. CCL24 is a strong suppressor of colony formation by a multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cell line and binds to CCR3.

BIRC7 is a part of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family and contains a single copy of a baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) as well as a RING-type zinc finger domain. The BIR domain is necessary for inhibitory activity & cooperates with caspases, while the RING finger domain sometimes increases anti-apoptotic activity but doesn’t inhibit apoptosis by itself. 2 transcript variants encoding diverse isoforms have been found for this gene. The 2 isoforms have dissimilar antiapoptotic characteristics, with isoform a protecting cells from apoptosis induced by staurosporine and isoform b defending cells from apoptosis induced by etoposide.
BIRC7 has direct contact with several caspases together with caspase-3, caspase-7, & caspase –9. BIRC7 inhibits the activation of caspase-9 induced by Apaf-1, cytochrome c, and dATP.

Caspase Recruitment Domain Family, Member 17 (CARD17) is a regulator of procaspase-1/CASP1 activation involved in the regulation of the proteolytic maturation of pro-IL-1beta/IL1B and its release throughout inflammation. CARD17 inhibits the release of IL1B in reaction to LPS in monocytes. Though, unlike CASP1, CARD17 do not induce NF-kappa-B activation.

CCL28 is part of the subfamily of small cytokine CC genes. CCL28 shows chemotactic activity for resting CD4 or CD8 T cells and eosinophils. CCL28 binds to chemokine receptors CCR3 and CCR10. CCL28 is involved in the physiology of extracutaneous epithelial tissues, including diverse mucosal organs. CCL28 mediates mucosal immunity in HIV exposure and infection. CCL28 is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases.
Human CCL28 cDNA encodes a 127 amino acid residue precursor protein with a putative 22 amino acid residue signal peptide that is cleaved to produce the 105 amino acid residue mature protein. Human and mouse CCL28 are highly conserved, sharing 83% amino acid identity in their mature regions. CCL28 shares the most homology with CCL27/CTACK. Human and mouse CCL28 RNA expression was found to be highest in normal and pathologic colon with the protein being expressed by epithelial cells. Human CCL28 RNA was also present in normal and asthmatic lung tissues.