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Decorin (DCN) is a small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan which is closely related in structure to biglycan protein. Decorin is a secreted protein which binds to collagen and fibronectin in extracellular matrix. Decorin appears in different glycoforms, substituted with chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate consistent with the original tissue. DCN contains one attached glycosaminoglycan chain. Decorin influences the rate of fibril formation. Decorin is capable of suppressing the growth of various tumor cell lines. DCN gene defects cause corneal dystrophy. The DCN gene is a candidate gene for Marfan syndrome.

Nucleopurin 62kDa (NUP62) belongs to the FG-repeat containing nucleoporins and is localized to the nuclear pore central plug. Nucleoporins are the principal components of the nuclear pore complex in eukaryotic cells. This complex is a colossal structure which extends across the nuclear envelope, forming an entryway that regulates the stream of macromolecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. NUP62 associates with the importin alpha/beta complex that is involved in the import of proteins containing nuclear localization signals. Defects in the NUP62 are the cause of SNDI (infantile striatonigral degeneration), aka infantile bilateral striatal necrosis (IBSN) or familial striatal degeneration.

UNG is a member of the Uracil-DNA glycosylase family. One of his functions is to prevent mutagenesis by eliminating uracil from DNAmolecules by cleaving the N-glycosylic bond and initiating the base-excision repair (BER) pathway. Uracil basesare formed as a result of cytosine deamination or misincorporation of dUMP residues. After a mutation is formed, the mutagenicthreat of uracil propagates through any subsequent DNA replication steps. Among the diseases associated with UNG are: congenital rubella, and immunodeficiency with hyper igm type 4.

PTX-2 or Pentraxin-2 is a phylogenetically conserved protein, commonly moving with homopentameric blood protein or with a protein that recognizes receptors of the innate immune system. The protein’s specific binding abilities may show that PTX-2 is specially bound in sites where injury accrued, therefore helps to eliminate damaged tissue by ways that are not phlogistics.

HSPA9 is part of the heat shock protein 70 family which contains both heat-inducible and constitutively expressed members that are also called heat-shock cognate proteins. HSPA9 encodes a heat-shock cognate protein that is involved in the control of cell proliferation and acts as a chaperone. HSPA9 was restricted to chromosome 5, band q31, a region that is often deleted in myeloid leukemias and myelodysplasia (MDS), making it a candidate tumor suppressor gene, which is consistent with the biological function of its murine homologue. HSPA9 supresses nuclear translocation, transcriptional activation, and control of centrosome-duplication functions of p53.

SSU72 is an extremely conserved homologue of yeast Ssu72, a CTD phosphatase and a component of the polyadenylation/termination machinery. SSU72 interacts with TFIIB, Rb and DNAM-1 and operates to catalyze the dephosphorylation of target proteins, and taking part in RNA processing and termination via dephosphorylation of Pol II. SSU72 is found in multiple alternatively spliced isoforms.

Podoplanin is a small mucin-like type-1 transmembrane protein, typically expressed in various specialized cell types throughout the body. Podoplanin is a type-I integral membrane glycoprotein with diverse distribution in human tissues. PDPN physiological function is related to its mucin-type character. The homologous protein in other species has been described as a differentiation antigen and influenza-virus receptor.
PDPN is expressed in lymphatic progenitor cells and afterwards during mouse development in lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is a specific marker for lymph vessel endothelial cells. Over-expression of podoplanin significantly elevates endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and tube formation. Inhibition of Podoplanin expression decreases cell adhesion in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is used as a specific marker for lymphatic endothelium in histopathology.
Podoplanin expression is increased in nearly all human colon, rectum, and small intestine tumors. AGGRUS may serve as a diagnostic marker that distinguishes seminomas, the majority of which over express the protein, from embryonal carcinoma in testicular germ cell tumors.

Single-strand-selective monofunctional uracil-DNA glycosylase (SMUG1) is an enzyme responsible for recognizing base lesions in the genome and initiating base excision DNA repair. SMUG1 participates in base excision repair by removing uracil from single- and double-stranded DNA. SMUG1 serves as a monofunctional DNA glycosylase specific for uracil (U) residues in DNA and has inclination for single-stranded DNA substrates. SMUG1 activity is greater against mismatches (U/G) than against matches (U/A).

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important signaling protein involved in vessel formation As its name implies, VEGF activity has been mostly studied on cells of the vascular endothelium, although it does have effects on a number of other cell types (e.g. stimulation monocyte/macrophage migration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells ). VEGF mediates increased vascular permeability, induces vasculogenesis and endothelial cell production, promotes cell migration, and inhibits apoptosis. In vitro, VEGF has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesis and cell migration. VEGF is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor. VEGF is located in normal cartilage though only osteoarthritic cartilage expresses the VEGF receptors, NP1, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. The VEGF level in the culture media from OA chondrocytes was more than 3 folds higher than in media from normal chondrocytes

Apolipoprotein-D is mainly associated with high density lipoproteins in human plasma. Apolipoprotein-D is an atypical apolipoprotein and, based on its primary structure, Apolipoprotein-D is a member of the lipocalin family. Lipocalins adopt a beta-barrel tertiary structure and transport small hydrophobic ligands. Apolipoprotein-D binds cholesterol, progesterone, pregnenolone, bilirubin and arachidonic acid.
Apolipoprotein-D is expressed in numerous tissues having high levels of expression in spleen, testes and brain. Apolipoprotein-D is present at high concentrations in the cyst fluid of women with gross cystic disease of the breast, a condition associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Apolipoprotein-D accumulates in regenerating peripheral nerves and in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein-D participates in maintenance and repair within the central and peripheral nervous systems. Apolipoprotein-D is a multi-ligand, multi-functional transporter and transports a ligand from 1 cell to another within an organ, scavenge a ligand within an organ for transport to the blood or could transport a ligand from the circulation to specific cells within a tissue.

Mitochondrial methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase (AUH) is involved in the amino acid degradation pathway by catalyzing the conversion of 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA and water. AUH Human is expressed as a single mRNA species of 1.8 kb, and translated as a 40kDa precursor protein which is consequently processed to a 32kDa mature form. AUH has a very low enoyl-CoA hydratase activity. The AUH protein binds to the AU-rich element (ARE), which is a common element found in the 3' UTR of rapidly decaying mRNA such as c-fos, c-myc and granulocyte/ macrophage colony stimulating factor. AU-rich elements are involved in directing RNA to rapid degradation and deadenylation. In addition, AUH is homologous to enol-CoA hydratase, which is an enzyme involved in fatty acid degradation, and has been shown to have intrinsic hydratase enzymatic activity. AUH is therefore a bifunctional chimera between RNA binding and metabolic enzyme activity.

Inorganic pyrophosphatase (ppa) is a member of the Ppase family. PPA is an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of one molecule of pyrophosphate to two phosphate ions. Since this is a highly exergonic reaction, it can therefore be coupled to unfavorable biochemical transformations in order to drive these transformations to completion. The role of the PPA enzyme is a critical one in the lipid metabolism (including lipid synthesis and degradation), calcium absorption and bone formation, DNA synthesis, as well as other biochemical transformations.

CMV belongs to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae which includes herpes simplex virustypes 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barrvirus. The herpesviruses share a characteristic ability to remain latentover long periods. CMV is a double-stranded linear DNA virus with 162 hexagonal protein capsomeres surrounded by a lipid membrane. CMV has the largest genome of the herpes viruses, ranging from 230-240 kilobase pairs. Human CMV is composed of unique and inverted repeats that include the existence of 4 genome isomers caused by inversion of L-S genome components (class E). Replication may be divided into immediate early, delayed early, and late gene expression based on time of synthesis after infection. The DNA is replicated by rolling circles. In vitro, CMV replicates in human fibroblasts.

Thrombopoietin is a glycoprotein hormone produced mainly by the liver and the kidney that regulates the production of platelets by the bone marrow. It stimulates the production and differentiation of megakaryocytes, the bone marrow cells that fragment into large numbers of platelets.

Polymerase (RNA) II (DNA directed) Polypeptide J (POLR2J) is a subunit of RNA polymerase II, the polymerase responsible for synthesizing messenger RNA in eukaryotes. The POLR2J protein occurs as a heterodimer with another polymerase subunit; together they develop a core subassembly unit of the polymerase. POLR2J is ubiquitously expressed, having a high expression in the heart and skeletal muscle.

Protein Phosphatase 2, Regulatory Subunit A Alpha, also known as PPP2R1A is part of the PPP family of phosphatases, which regulates a diversity of vital cellular processes. PPP2R1A subunit, PR65, functions as a scaffolding molecule which coordinates the assembly of the catalytic subunit and a variable regulatory B subunit. PPP2R1A is essential for proper chromosome segregation as well as for centromeric localization of SGOL1 in mitosis. Furthermore, PPP2R1A phosphorylation is an in vivo mechanism which regulates the PP2A signaling complex as well as increasing the PP2A activity in heart failure.

POLR2J2 belongs to the RNA polymerase II subunit 11 gene family, that includes 3 genes in a cluster on chromosome 7q22.1 and a pseudogene on chromosome 7p13. DNA directed RNA polymerase II polypeptide J family encodes a subunit of RNA polymerase II, the polymerase which is responsible for synthesizing messenger RNA in eukaryotes. This locus produces multiple, otherwise spliced transcripts which express isoforms with distinct C-termini compared to DNA directed RNA polymerase II polypeptide J. Most or all variants are spliced to include additional non-coding exons at the 3' end that makes them candidates for nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). Therefore, it is unknown if this locus expresses a protein or proteins in vivo.

Urate oxidase catalyzes the enzymatic oxidation (degrades) of uric acid into allantoin, an inactive and soluble metabolite, which is 5 to 10 fold more soluble than uric acid . Urate oxidase is an enzyme of the purine breakdown pathway that catalyses the oxidation of uric acid to allantoin. Uricase is present in numerous diverse organisms, but not in higher primates including human. Hyperuricaemia is most commonly associated with gout and also occurs in mammalians with malignancy, especially those with lymphoid malignancies due to rapid cell turnover and an increased rate of purine metabolism. Uricase is effective in the prevention and treatment of hyperuricaemia in mammalians with malignancy and in those who have undergone transplantation. It appears to act rapidly, safely and induces a more dramatic decrease in plasma levels of uric acid.

PDXP is the active form of vitamin B6 that functions as a coenzyme in preserving biochemical homeostasis. The desired degradation route from PLP to 4-pyridoxic acid involves the dephosphorylation of PLP by PDXP. PDXP shows activity to pyridoxal 5''-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxine 5''-phosphate (PMP) and Pyridoxine 5''-phosphate (PNP), with a highest activity with PLP followed by PNP.

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II DO Alpha (HLA-DOA) is a significant modulator in the HLA class II restricted antigen presentation pathway by interaction with the HLA-DM molecule in B-cells. HLA-DOA forms a heterodimer along with HLA-DOB. The heterodimer is located in lysosomes in B cells and regulates HLA-DM-mediated peptide loading on MHC class II molecules. HLA-DOA exhibits very little sequence variation, particularly at the protein level.

Thrombopoietin is a glycoprotein hormone produced mainly by the liver and the kidney which regulates the production of platelets by the bone marrow. TPO stimulates the production as well as differentiation of megakaryocytes, the bone marrow cells which fragment into large numbers of platelets.

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) regulatory Tat protein plays an essential role in viral replication (Jones KA, 1994) and infectivity (Arya SK, 1985; Fisher AG, 1986). In addition, during acute infection, Tat is released extracellularly by infected cells (Chang HC, 1997; Ensoli B, 1990) and is taken up by neighboring cells where it transactivates viral replication (Ensoli B, 1993) and increases virus infectivity.
HIV-1 Tat activates transcription of HIV-1 viral genes by inducing phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). Tat can also disturb cellular metabolism by inhibiting proliferation of antigen-specific T lymphocytes and by inducing cellular apoptosis. Tat-induced apoptosis of T-cells is attributed, in part, to the distortion of microtubules polymerization. LIS1 is a microtubule-associated protein that facilitates microtubule polymerization.