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Recombinant Mouse Sonic Hedgehog is part of a small group of secreted proteins that are vital for development in both vertebrates and invertebrates. 3 mammalian hedgehog genes (sonic, desert, Indian) share about 60% homology. The Mouse Sonic Hedgehog is 99% homologous to the human gene. Sonic HedgeHog is a protein that is vital in guding the early embryo. It has been associated as the major inductive signal in patterning of the ventral neural tube, the anterior-posterior limb axis, and the ventral somites. Sonic HedgeHog binds to the patched receptor, which functions in association with smoothened, to activate the transcription of target genes. In the absence of sonic HedgeHog, patched receptor represses the constitutive signaling activity of smoothened. Sonic HedgeHog also regulates another factor, the gli oncogene. Sonic HedgeHog intercellular signal is essential for a various patterning events during development: signal produced by the notochord that induces ventral cell fate in the neural tube and somites, and the polarizing signal for patterning of the anterior-posterior axis of the developing limb bud. Sonic HedgeHog exhibits both floor plate- and motor neuron-inducing activity. Mutations in a long-range Sonic HedgeHog enhancer located in an intron of the limb region 1 gene result in preaxial polydactyly.

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein family which is part of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. The superfamily includes large families of growth and differentiation factors. Bone morphogenetic proteins were originally identified by an ability of demineralized bone extract to induce endochondral osteogenesis in vivo in an extraskeletal site. This particular family member plays an important role in the onset of endochondral bone formation in humans, and a reduction in expression has been associated with a variety of bone diseases, including the heritable disorder Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. Alternative splicing in the 5' untranslated region of this gene has been described and three variants are described, all encoding an identical protein.

PDCD6 is a calcium-binding protein and is a member of the penta-EF-hand protein family. Calcium binding is vital for homodimerization and for conformational changes essential for binding to other protein partners. PDCD6 takes part in T cell receptor-, Fas-, and glucocorticoid-induced programmed cell death. However, tests showed that in mice deficient for PDCD6, apoptosis was not blocked which suggests that PDCD6 is functionally redundant.

Human Fatty Epidermal Acid Binding Protein FABP also called FABP-5 is a 15 kD member of the intracellular fatty acid binding protein (FABP) family, which is known for the ability to bind fatty acids and related compounds ( bile acids or retinoids). In an internal cavity. The fatty acid binding proteins aP2 (fatty acid binding protein [FABP]-4) and mal1 (EFABP) are closely related and both are expressed in adipocytes. Absence of EFABP/mal1 resulted in increased systemic insulin sensitivity in two models of obesity and insulin resistance. Adipocytes isolated from mal1-deficient mice also exhibited enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose transport capacity. In contrast, mice expressing high levels of mal1 in adipose tissue display reduced systematic insulin activity.

Four And A Half LIM Domains 2 (FHL2) belongs to the four-and-a-half-LIM-only protein family. Family members are comprised of 2 highly conserved, tandemly arranged, zinc finger domains with 4 highly conserved cysteines binding a zinc atom in each zinc finger. The FHL2 protein is assumed to play a part in the assembly of extracellular membranes. Furthermore, FHL2 is down-regulated during transformation of normal myoblasts to rhabdomyosarcoma cells and the FHL2 functions as a link between presenilin-2 and an intracellular signaling pathway.

PDCD6IP is a Class E VPS protein which participates in concentration and sorting of cargo proteins of the multivesicular body or incorporation into intralumenal vesicles that are generated by invagination and scission from the limiting membrane of the endosome. PDCD6IP binds to the phospholipid lysobisphosphatidic acid which is abundant in MVBs internal membranes. The MVB pathway appears to require the sequential function of ESCRT-O, -I,-II and -III complexes. PDCD6IP is an adapter for a subset of ESCRT-III proteins, such as CHMP4, to function at distinct membranes. PDCD6IP is mandatory for completion of cytokinesis. PDCD6IP takes part in HIV-1 virus budding. PDCD6IP replaces TSG101 in its function of supporting HIV-1 release. PDCD6IP takes part in the regulation of both apoptosis and cell proliferation. PDCD6IP is a cytoplasmic protein that cooperates with apoptosis-associated proteins (ALG-2 and PDCD6) and with the endocytosis-regulator CIN85. Overexpression of PDCD6IP and endophilin

Developmental pluripotency-associated 5 proteins (DPPA5) is a 116 amino acid protein, which localizes to the cytoplasm and contains one KH domain. DPPA5 is expressed in embryonic germ (EG), primordial germ (PG) and embryonic stem (ES) cells. DPPA5 has an imperative role in the maintenance of ES cell pluripotency and may be essential for proper embryogenesis.

DHH is part of the Hedgehog family which encodes signaling molecules that are involved in regulating morphogenesis. DHH protein is a precursor that is autocatalytically cleaved, the N-terminal portion is soluble and contains the signalling activity while the C-terminal portion is involved in precursor processing. Additionally, the C-terminal product covalently attaches a cholesterol moiety to the N-terminal product, restricting the N-terminal product to the cell surface and preventing it from freely diffusing throughout the organism. Defects in DHH protein have been associated with partial gonadal dysgenesis (PGD) accompanied by minifascicular polyneuropathy. DHH plays a role both male gonadal differentiation and perineurial development.
DHH plays a role in intercellular signaling which is essential for a variety of patterning events during development. DHH functions as a spermatocyte survival factor in the testes & is essential for testes development.

Inhibitor of Growth Family, Member 2 (ING2) belongs to the inhibitor of growth (ING) family. ING family members associate with and modulate the activity of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes and serve in DNA repair and apoptosis. ING2 appears to be involved in p53/TP53 activation and p53/TP53-dependent apoptotic pathways, most likely by enhancing acetylation of p53/TP53. ING2 is a component of an mSin3A-like corepressor complex, which is probably involved in deacetylation of nucleosomal histones. ING2 activity is modulated by binding to phosphoinositides (PtdInsPs).

IFN-gamma produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens or mitogens.
IFN-gamma, in addition to having antiviral activity, has important immunoregulatory functions, it is a potent activator of macrophages, and has antiproliferative effects on transformed cells and it can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I interferons.

Profilin-1 also known as Pfn1 is a ubiquitous actin monomer-binding protein which is a member of the profilin family. Pfn1 significantly enhances skin wound healing in-vitro as well as in-vivo which is mediated by purinergic receptors. Furthermore, Pfn1 is also active in endothelial cell migration and vessel sprouting. Pfn1 is considered to regulate actin polymerization in response to extracellular signals.

PDCD5 is expressed in tumor cells during apoptosis independent of the apoptosis-inducing stimuli. Prior to apoptosis induction, PDCD5 is distributed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Once apoptosis is induced, the amount of PDCD5 increases and by relocation from the cytoplasm, it accumulates in the nucleus.PDCD5 protein has a stable helical core conformation consisting of a triple-helix bundle and two dissociated terminal regions. PDCD5 is an important novel protein that regulates both apoptotic and non-apoptotic programmed cell death. PDCD5 functions in the process of apoptosis.
PDCD5 plays an important role in regulation of apoptotic processes in gastric cancer cells and gastric tumors.
PDCD5 plays a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
-27G/-11A SNP is associated with reduced PDCD5 promoter activity and increased susceptibility to chronic myelogenous leukemia.
PDCD5 gene may be a target gene under the control of some important apoptosis-related transcriptional factors during the cell apoptosis.

CRYGD is a member of the beta/gamma-crystallin family. Crystallins are the principal structural components of the vertebrate eye lens. The mammalian lens crystallins are divided into alpha, beta, and gamma families. Gamma-crystallins are involved in cataract formation. Defects in the CRYGD gene are responsible for cataract autosomal dominant (ADC), cataract congenital non-nuclear polymorphic autosomal dominant (CCP), cataract congenital cerulean type 3 (CCA3) and cataract crystalline aculeiform (CACA).

Family with Sequence Similarity 3, Member A (FAM3A) is a member of the FAM3 family along with FAM3B (Pander) protein which induces apoptosis of pancreatic alpha and beta cells. FAM3A is a cytokine-like protein, which is expressed in almost all tissues such as the testis, pancreas, adrenal, placenta, brain, fetal brain, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle and the heart. FAM3A gene expression may be regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and the FAM3A protein might be involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Although the function of the FAM3A protein has been unclear until now, it may act as a defensin against invading fungal microorganisms.

GDF-11 belongs to the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. GDF-11 is a central developmental factor which controls muscular and neural development. In adults, GDF-11 encourages cardiac hypertrophy reverse by the revival of cardiomyocytes.

Pleiotrophin (Osteoblast-Specific Factor-1, OSF-1) contains 136 amino acid residues. The sequence is very rich in cationic amino acids (24% of the residues); lysine cluster sequences are found in the N-terminal and C-terminal ends of the structure.
The OSF-1 gene was shown by Northern blotting analysis to be expressed in mouse calvarial osteoblast-enriched cells and in mouse brain tissues, but not in thymus, spleen, kidney, liver, lung, testis or heart. Pleiotrophin has the ability to promote adhesion, migration, expansion, and differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells. In addition to certain types of cancer, the embryonic growth and differentiation factor pleiotrophin is found also in adults in inflammatory diseases. In osteoarthritis, pleiotrophin is especially expressed in early stages, and its concentrations in the synovial fluid could serve as a marker for the progress of the disease. Pleitrophin might be involved in cartilage repair in osteoarthritis, in particular, in earlier stages.

DIRAS1 is a member of a distinct branch of the functionally diverse Ras superfamily of monomeric GTPases. DIRAS1 demonstrates low GTPase activity and exists mainly in the GTP-bound form. Ras proteins operate as binary molecular switches that control intracellular signaling networks. Ras-regulated signal pathways regulate such processes as actin cytoskeletal integrity, proliferation, differentiation, cell adhesion, apoptosis, and cell migration. Ras and ras-related proteins are frequently deregulated in cancers, leading to increased invasion and metastasis, and decreased apoptosis.

P4HB is a multifunctional and highly abundant enzyme that is part of the protein disulfide isomerase family. When present as a tetramer consisting of two alpha and two beta subunits, P4HB has a role in hydroxylation of prolyl residues in preprocollagen. P4HB is a disulfide isomerase containing two thioredoxin domains that catalyze the formation, breakage and rearrangement of disulfide bonds.

Family with Sequence Similarity 84, Member B (FAM84B) coprecipitated with a downstream effector of RAS, CRAF. Binding of FAM83B with CRAF interrupted CRAF/14-3-3 interactions and increased CRAF membrane localization, causing elevated MAPK and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. FAM84B is an oncogene and possibly represents a new target for therapeutic intervention.

Diphthamide Biosynthesis 3 Pseudogene 1 also known as DPH3P1 may stand for a processed pseudogene of DPH3 since it lacks the exon/intron structurefound in the functional gene. Yet, DPH3P1 does contain an intact open reading frame, though its translation has not been established.

GDF15 is part of the TGF-Beta superfamily which is involved in regulating inflammatory and apoptotic pathways in injured tissues and throughout disease processes. GDF15 is most abundant in the liver. Its expression in liver can be considerably up-regulated in during injury of organs such as liver, kidney, heart and lung. GDF-15 promotes proliferation or growth arrest and differentiation due to differences in cellular differentiation. GDF15 prevents apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons by activating Akt and inhibiting endogenously active ERK. GDF15 is a novel autocrine/endocrine factor that antagonizes the hypertrophic response and loss of ventricular performance.

Energy Homeostasis Associated (ENHO) participates in glucose homeostasis maintenance and lipid metabolism. ENHO is expressed in the liver and the brain. The role of ENHO in obesity or diabetes is studied.