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Membrane-bound & Cytosolic forms of GST are encoded by 2 separate supergene families. These enzymes function in the detoxification of electrophilic compounds, including carcinogens, therapeutic drugs, environmental toxins and products of oxidative stress, by conjugation with glutathione. There are 8 different classes of soluble cytoplasmic mammalian GST: alpha, kappa, mu, omega, pi, sigma, theta and zeta. The GSTA1 is found in a cluster mapped to chromosome 6, and is highly expressed in the liver. GSTA1 protects the cells from reactive oxygen species.

KCTD15 protein is encoded in humans by the KCTD15 gene. KCTD15 is expressed at a high level in the brain and the hypothalamus. The potassium channel KCTD15 was identified as a genetic loci linked to higher than normal BMI in humans along with genes such as GNPDA2, MTCH2, FTO, and TMEM18. SNPs (Single nucleotide polymorphisms) in non-diabetic and diabetic patients showed that FTO was most strongly associated with obesity while MTCH2 and GNPDA2 were still notably associated with higher than normal BMI levels.

Glutathione S-transferase mu 5 (GSTM5) belongs to the glutathione s-transferase (GST) family of proteins. There are 8 families of GST proteins, specifically alpha, kappa, mu, omega, pi, sigma, theta and zeta, each of which is comprised of proteins which have various functions throughout the cell. GSTM5 belongs to the mu class of enzymes which function in the detoxification of electrophilic compounds, including carcinogens, therapeutic drugs, environmental toxins and products of oxidative stress, by conjugation with glutathione. GSTM5 has an imperative role in detoxification. GSTM5 conjugates reduced glutathione to a large number of exogenous and endogenous hydrophobic electrophiles.

GSTM4 is part of the glutathione s-transferase (GST) family of proteins. There are eight families of GST proteins, namely alpha, kappa, mu, omega, pi, sigma, theta and zeta, each of which is composed of proteins that have a variety of functions throughout the cell. The mu class of enzymes functions in the detoxification of electrophilic compounds, including carcinogens, therapeutic drugs, environmental toxins and products of oxidative stress, by conjugation with glutathione.

Transforming growth factor betas (TGFBetas) mediate many cell-cell interactions that occur during embryonic development. Three TGFBetas have been identified in mammals. TGFBeta1, TGFBeta2 and TGFBeta3 are each synthesized as precursor proteins that are very similar in that each is cleaved to yield a 112 amino acid polypeptide that remains associated with the latent portion of the molecule. This antibody reacts with the precursor and mature form of TGFBeta2 and to a lesser extent TGFBeta3, but does not cross react with TGFBeta1.

Cystatin-A is the intracellular inhibitor of cysteine proteinase cathepsin B (CatB) and belongs to family 1 of the cystatin superfamily of inhibitor proteins. CSTA is a stefin that functions as a cysteine protease inhibitor, forming tight complexes with papain and the cathepsins B, H, and L. It has been proposed that extracellular CatB together with other classes of proteinases are all subjected to a cascade-like manner of activation. CatB and its inhibitor Cystatin-A are involved in degradation of extracellular matrix proteins during tissue remodeling. CSTA is one of the precursor proteins of cornified cell envelope in keratinocytes and plays a role in epidermal development and maintenance. Cystatin-A has been reported to be found in high concentrations in epithelial cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphoid tissue. Stefins may be used as prognostic and diagnostic tools for cancer.

Cathepsins B, C, H, L, S, V, X/Z/P and 1 are cysteine proteases of the papain family. Cathepsin C is also known as DPPI (dipeptidyl-peptidase I). Cathepsin A is a serine carboxypeptidase and Cathepsin D and E are aspartic proteases. As lysosomal proteases, cathepsins play an important role in protein degradation. Because of their redistribution or increased levels in human and animal tumors, cathepsins may have a role in invasion and metastasis. Cathepsins are synthesized as inactive proenzymes and processed to become mature and active enzymes. Endogenous protein inhibitors, such as cystatins and some serpins, inhibit active enzymes.

Thymine-DNA glycosylase (TDG) is a member of the TDG/mug DNA glycosylase family.
TDG is a nuclear protein that fixes G/T mismatches to G/C pairs by hydrolyzing the carbon-nitrogen bond between the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA and the mispaired thymin. In addition, TDG removes uracil and 5-bromouracil from mispairings with guanine. The TDG enzyme has an essential role in cellular defense against genetic mutation triggered by the spontaneous deamination of 5-methylcytosine and cytosine.

Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and is a member of a group of cytokines that all stimulate the acute phase reaction. TNF is mainly secreted by macrophages.
TNF causes apoptotic cell death, cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumorigenesisand viral replication, TNF is also involved in lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF's primary role is in the regulation of immune cells.
Dysregulation and, in particular, overproduction of TNF have been implicated in a variety of human diseases- autoimmune diseases, insulin resistance, and cancer.

Cathepsin D is synthesized as a 54kDa precursor, which is proteolytically processed to an intermediate 48kDa single chain, which matures into more stable 34kDa and 14kDa two chain form. It is an estrogen-regulated lysosomal protease that has been suggested to facilitate cancer cell migration and invasion by digesting the basement membrane, extracellular matrix, and xonnective tissue. Because of its mitogenic and proteolytic activities, it has been implicated as a prognostic marker in many tumor types. Cathepsin D is expressed in epithelial cells as well as in macrophages.

GSTM3 belongs to the glutathione s-transferase (GST) family of proteins. There are eight GST proteins families, named alpha, kappa, mu, omega, pi, sigma, theta and zeta. Each one of the GST families has several proteins with different functions throughout the cell. The mu type of enzymes takes part in the detoxification of electrophilic compounds, including therapeutic drugs, carcinogens, environmental toxins and products of oxidative stress, by conjugation with glutathione.

CAPG is part of the gelsolin/villin family of actin-regulatory proteins. CAPG reversibly blocks the barbed ends of F-actin filaments in a Ca2+ and phosphoinositide-regulated method, though it does not separate preformed actin filaments. By capping the barbed ends of actin filaments, CAPG contributes to the control of actin-based motility in non-muscle cells. CAPG is involved in macrophage function. CAPG is involved in regulating cytoplasmic and/or nuclear structures via possible interactions with actin. CAPG binds DNA. CAPG lacks a nuclear export sequence present in structurally related proteins. CAPG is a tumor suppressor protein that plays a role in the tumorigenic progression of certain cancers. Dysregulated expression of CAPG was found in premalignant and malignant oral carcinogenesis.

Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. This I-domain containing alpha integrin combines with the beta 2 chain (ITGB2) to form a leukocyte-specific integrin referred to as macrophage receptor 1 ('Mac-1'), or inactivated-C3b (iC3b) receptor 3 ('CR3'). The alpha M beta 2 integrin is important in the adherence of neutrophils and monocytes to stimulated endothelium, and also in the phagocytosis of complement coated particles. Integrin alpha-m/beta-2 is implicated in various adhesive interactions of monocytes, macrophages and granulocytes as well as in mediating the uptake of complement-coated particles. CD-11b is identical with cr-3, the receptor for the ic3b fragment of the third complement component. CD-11b probably recognizes the r-g-d peptide in c3b. Integrin alpha-m/beta-2 is also a receptor for fibrinogen, factor x and icam1. it recognizes p1 and p2 peptides of fibrinogen gamma chain.

MCM7 is a highly conserved mini-chromosome maintenance protein (MCM) vital for eukaryotic genome replication initiation. The MCM proteins form a hexameric protein complex which is a key component of the pre-replication complex (pre_RC) which takes part in replication forks formation and in DNA replication related proteins recruitment. The MCM complex is comprised of MCM2, 4, 6 and 7 proteins and possesses DNA helicase activity, such as DNA unwinding.

Entry of HSV into the host cell involves interactions of several viral glycoproteins with cell surface receptors. The virus particle is covered by an envelope which, when bound to specific receptors on the cell surface, will fuse with the cell membrane and create an opening, or pore, through which the virus enters the host cell. The sequential stages of HSV entry are analagous to those of other viruses. At first, complementary receptors on the virus and cell surface bring the two membranes into proximity. In an intermediate state, the two membranes begin to merge, forming a hemifusion state. Finally, a stable entry pore is formed through which the viral envelope contents are introduced to the host cell.

Cytosolic and membrane-bound types of GST are encoded by 2 different supergene families. There are 8 classes of the soluble cytoplasmic mammalian GST: alpha, kappa, mu, omega, pi, sigma, theta and zeta. The mu class of enzymes functions in the detoxification of electrophilic compounds, including carcinogens, therapeutic drugs, environmental toxins and products of oxidative stress, by conjugation with glutathione. The genes encoding the mu class of enzymes are arranged in a gene cluster on chromosome 1p13.3 and aare highly polymorphic. These genetic differences can change an individual's resistance to carcinogens and toxins as well as affect the toxicity and efficacy of certain drugs. Null mutations of this class mu gene have been linked with the rise in a number of cancers.

EPO is a member of the EPO/TPO family and encodes a secreted, glycosylated cytokine composed of 4 alpha helical bundles. EPO is found in the plasma and regulates red cell production by promoting erythroid differentiation and initiating hemoglobin synthesis. EPO also has neuroprotective activity against a variety of potential brain injuries and antiapoptotic functions in several tissue types.

Cytokeratin 8 (KRT8) belongs to the type II keratin family clustered on the long arm of chromosome 12. Type I and type II keratins heteropolymerize to form intermediate-sized filaments in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. KRT8 typically dimerizes with keratin 18 to form an intermediate filament in simple single-layered epithelial cells. KRT8 has a role in retaining cellular structural integrity and also functions in signal transduction and cellular differentiation. KRT8 gene mutations cause cryptogenic cirrhosis.

STAT1 is a member of the Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcriptionfamily of transcription factors. STAT1 is involved in upregulating genes due to a signal by either type Ior type IIinterferons. In response to IFN-?stimulation, STAT1 forms homodimers or heterodimers with STAT3that bind to the GAS (Interferon-Gamma Activated Sequence) promoter element; in response to either IFN-? or IFN-?stimulation, STAT1 forms a heterodimer with STAT2that can bind the ISRE (Interferon Stimulated Response Element) promoter element. In either case, binding of the promoter element leads to an increased expression of ISG (Interferon Stimulated Genes).

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

Glia Maturation Factor-Beta (GMF-Beta) is a 17 kDa protein nerve gorwth factor identified as a growth and differentiation factor in the vertebrate brain.

Glia Maturation Factor-Beta stimulates differentiation of normal neurons as well as glial cells. GMFB inhibits the proliferation of the N-18 neuroblastoma line and the C6 glioma line while promoting their phenotypic expression.
GMF-beta inhances the phenotypic expression of glia & neurons thus inhibits the proliferation of their respective tumors when added to cell culture. Although astrocytes produce GMF-b and stores it inside the cells, they don’t secrete the GMF-B into the cultured medium. Cell- surface GMFb acts on the target cells at close range when cells are in direct contact. GMF-Beta is produced by thymic epithelial cells and plays an important role in T cell development in favor of CD4+ T cells.
GMF-Beta is a brain-specific protein which belongs to the actin-binding proteins (ADF) family. GMF-beta appears to play a role in the differentiation, maintenance, and regeneration of the nervous system. It also supports the progression of certain auto-immune diseases, possibly through its ability to induce the production and secretion of various pro-inflammatory cytokines.

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 (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is caused by a human coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are the major cause of upper respiratory tract illness, such as the common cold, in humans. 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 glycosilated spike protein (as well as the nucleocapsid protein) can be detected in infected cell culture supernatants with antisera from SARS patients.