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MAO-B is a member of the flavin monoamine oxidase family. MAO-B (Monoamine oxidase B) is a flavin-containing mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of biogenic and xenobiotic monoamines. MAO-B controls the metabolic degradation of catecholamines and serotonin in neural and other target tissues. MAO-B is located in platelets and in DOPA-secreting neurons in the brain. MAOB and MAOA genes have an imperative function in DOPA degradation. Benzylamine and phenylethylamine are preferentially degraded by MAOB. The MAOB gene is linked to autistic traits, empathy and Asperger syndrome. Amplified levels of MAO B are identified in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients. High phenylethylamine levels in neonates as a result of low MAOB are consistent with phenylketonuria in newborns. Polymorphisms in MAO-B are connected to smoking behavior.

MAT2A is an important enzyme in cellular metabolism and catalyzes the formation of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) from L-methionine and ATP. MAT2A is expressed in extrahepatic tissues. In liver, MAT2A expression associates with growth, dedifferentiation, and cancer. NF-kappa B and AP-1 are necessary for basal MAT2A expression in HepG2 cells and mediate the increase in MAT2A expression in response to TNF-alpha. Up-regulation of MAT2A provides growth improvement and s-adenosylmethionine and methylthioadenosine thus can block mitogenic signaling in colon cancer cells. Lower expression of both MAT2A and MAT2beta and interfere with leptin signaling in liver cancer cells.

Methionine aminopeptidase 1 (METAP1) is a member of the peptidase M24A family. METAP1 removes the amino-terminal methionine from nascent proteins. METAP1 releases N-terminal amino acids, preferentially methionine, from peptides and arylamides. METAP1 is essential for normal progression through the cell cycle. The active site of METAP1 contains 2 adjacent divalent metal ions linked by a water molecule or hydroxide ion.

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.

Melanoma-associated antigen D1 (MAGED1) belongs to the melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) family and expressed in virtually all normal adult tissues. MAGED1 is involved in the p75 neurotrophin receptor mediated programmed cell death pathway. MAGED1 is involved in Prader-Willi syndrome including hyperphagia, repetitive and compulsive behaviors, and cognitive impairment. MAGED1 is involved in the apoptotic response following NGF (nerve growth factor) binding in neuronal cells. MAGED1 hinders cell cycle progression, and facilitates NGFR-mediated apoptosis. MAGED1 functions as a regulator of the function of DLX family members. MAGED1 has a role in the circadian rythm regulation.

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.

MAT2A is an important enzyme in cellular metabolism and catalyzes the formation of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) from L-methionine and ATP. MAT2A is expressed in extrahepatic tissues. In liver, MAT2A expression associates with growth, dedifferentiation, and cancer. NF-kappa B and AP-1 are necessary for basal MAT2A expression in HepG2 cells and mediate the increase in MAT2A expression in response to TNF-alpha. Up-regulation of MAT2A provides growth improvement and s-adenosylmethionine and methylthioadenosine thus can block mitogenic signaling in colon cancer cells. Lower expression of both MAT2A and MAT2beta and interfere with leptin signaling in liver cancer cells.

Melanotan and Melanotan-II are both analogs of the peptide hormone alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) that tend to induce skin tanning. Unlike Melanotan, Melanotan-II has the additional effect of increasing libido. Melanotan II has aphrodisiac properties.

MAPT is a neuronal microtubule associated protein localized mostly on axons.
MAPT promotes tubulin polymerisation and stabilizes microtubules, however it also serves to connect certain signalling pathways to the cytoskeleton. MAPT, in its hyperphosphorylated form, is the main part of paired helical filaments (PHF) and neurofibrillary lesions in Alzheimer''s disease (AD) brain.

Methionyl Aminopeptidase 1D (METAP1D) is a part of the peptidase M24A family. METAP1D which is overexpressed in colon cancer cell lines participates in tumorigenesis. METAP1D eliminates methionine from the N-terminus of nascent proteins.

MAGEA5 belongs to the MAGEA gene family which encodes proteins with 50 to 80% sequence identity to each other. The promoters and first exons of the MAGEA genes are variable, which signify that the presence of this gene family enables the same role to be expressed under diverse transcriptional controls. The MAGEA genes are clustered at chromosomal location Xq28. They are associated with several hereditary disorders, like dyskeratosis congenita. MAGEA5 gene encodes a protein which is C-terminally truncated compared to other family members, and can be alternatively interpreted to be a pseudogene.

Alcohol dehydrogenase 1A (ADH1A) is a member of the alcohol dehydrogenase family. ADH1A has a key role in ethanol metabolism. ADH1A along with coenzyme NAD catalyzes the reversible conversion of organic alcohols to ketones or aldehydes. The physiologic function of ADH1A in the liver is the elimination of ethanol formed by microorganisms in the intestinal tract. ADH1A is monomorphic and predominant in fetal and infant livers, growing to be less active in gestation and only weakly active during adulthood.

Myeloid leukemia factor 1 (MLF1) is a member of the MLF family, and is a widely expressed negative regulator of cell cycle progression functioning upstream of the tumor suppressor p53. MLF1 hinders the erythropoietin-induced erythroid terminal differentiation by averting cells from exiting the cell cycle through suppression of CDKN1B/p27Kip1 levels. MLF1 generally functions in multi-potent progenitor cells, and its dysregulation may be to some extent responsible for leukemogenesis. Translocations between the MLF1 gene and nucleophosmin are linked to myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

Myeloid/Lymphoid Leukemia Translocated To 11 (MLLT11) is a part of the Mixed-Lineage Leukemia protein family. MLLT11 which takes part in leukemogenesis and in the progression of severe monocytic leukemia (AML) is located on chromosome 11q23. MLLT11 which is also expressed in embryonic brain cortex is upregulated during neuronal differentiation and is taking part in the evolution of the central nervous system.

GADD45B is part of the nuclear proteins to interact with various proteins whose transcript levels are raised after stressful growth arrest conditions and treatment with DNA-damaging agents. GADD45B reacts to environmental stresses by mediating activation of the p38/JNK pathway which is mediated through their protein binding and activating MTK1/MEKK4 kinase, which is an upstream activator of both p38 and JNK MAPKs. GADD45B is involved in the regulation of growth and apoptosis. GADD45b takes part during chondrocyte terminal differentiation and mediates MMP-13 gene expression. GADD45 in B cells is induced by CD40 via a mechanism that involves NF-kappa B and that induction suppresses Fas-mediated killing. GADD45b is down-regulated in most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is a molecular marker in the diagnosis of HCC and as a possible therapeutic target.

GALE is an enzyme that participates as the third enzyme in the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism. GALE is a homodimeric epimerase localized in bacterial, plant, and mammalian cells. GALE inhances the reverse chemical reaction, the conversion of UDP-glucose to UDP-galactose. UDP-galactose builds galactose-containing proteins and fats, which have a crucial part in chemical signaling, building cellular structures, transporting molecules, and producing energy.

Transcription factor MafG (MAFG) is a member of the Maf family. Given that they lack a putative transactivation domain, the small Mafs act as transcriptional repressors when they dimerize amongst themselves. Nevertheless, they seem to function as transcriptional activators by dimerizing with other (generally larger) basic-zipper proteins and engaging them to specific DNA-binding sites. Small Maf proteins heterodimerize with Fos and may function as competitive repressors of the NF-E2 transcription factor.

Melan-A (MLANA), is engaged in melanosome biogenesis by ensuring the stability of GPR143. MLANA takes part in the expression, stability, trafficking, and processing of melanocyte protein PMEL, which is essential to the formation of stage II melanosomes.

MMP10 (Matrix Metallopeptidase 10) which is a part of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is activating procollagenase. MMP10 is part of a cluster of MMP genes which localize to chromosome 11q22.3. MMP10 takes part in the breakdown of extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes, like embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as also in disease processes, such as arthritis and metastasis. The majority MMP's are secreted as inactive proproteins that are activated when cleaved by extracellular proteinases. MMP10 encodes an enzyme which degrades proteoglycans and fibronectin.

Matrix Metallopeptidase 23B (MMP23B) belongs to the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, and it is section of a duplicated region of chromosome 1p36.3. MMP23B is a protease. MMP23B regulates the surface expression of some potassium channels by holding them in the endoplasmic reticulum. Members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family are involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes, such as arthritis and metastasis.

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.

MECR catalyzes the reduction of trans-2-enoyl-CoA to acyl-CoA with chain length from C6 to C16 in an NADPH dependent manner with preference to medium chain length substrate. MECR protein takes part in the mitochondrial synthesis of fatty acids.

Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) is vital for innate immune defense against viruses. MAVS is an intermediary protein essential in the virus-triggered IFN-beta signaling pathways. MAVS is involved in activation of transcription factors that regulate expression of IFN-beta and contributes to antiviral immunity.