Search results

Prostaglandin Reductase 2 (PTGR2) is a member of the medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily. PTGR2 is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of prostaglandins. PTGR2 catalyzes an NADPH-dependent reduction of the conjugated alpha, beta-unsaturated double bond of 15-keto-PGE(2), which is a fundamental step in terminal inactivation of prostaglandins and suppression of PPARgamma-mediated adipocyte differentiation. PTGR2 may also be involved in controlling activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 position of membrane glycerophospholipids to liberate arachidonic acid (AA), a precursor of eicosanoids including prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The same reaction also produces lysophosholipids, which represent another class of lipid mediators.
The secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) family, in which 10 isozymes have been identified, consists of low molecular weight, Ca2+-requiring secretory enzymes that have been implicated in a number of biological processes, such as modification of eicosanoid generation, inflammation, and host defense.
This enzyme has been proposed to hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine (PC) in lipoproteins to liberate lyso- PC and free fatty acids in the arterial wall, thereby facilitating the accumulation of bioactive lipids and modified lipoproteins in atherosclerotic foci.
In mice, sPLA2 expression significantly influences HDL particle size and composition and demonstrate that an induction of sPLA2 is required for the decrease in plasma HDL cholesterol in response to inflammatory stimuli. Instillation of bacteria into the bronchi was associated with surfactant degradation and a decrease in large:small ratio of surfactant aggregates in rats.

Legumain, also known as LGMN is a lysosomal cysteine protease which is found in all mouse tissues, however it was mainly abundant in the kidney as well as placenta. LGMN plays an essential role in the endosomal/lysosomal degradation system as the Legumain deficiency causes the accumulation of pro cathepsins B, H & L, another group of lysosomal cysteine proteases. Furthermore, over expression of LGMN in tumors is important for invasion/metastasis.

Twisted gastrulation Protein (TSG) is a secreted, cysteine-rich protein which has a role in dorsal/ventral patterning in Drosophila and Xenopus by regulating BMP signaling. TSG functions as an agonist for BMP signaling by controlling the inhibitory actions of the BMP antagonist, Chordin/Sog, and the cleavage properties of the metalloprotease, xolloid/tolloid. TSG N-terminal domain binds BMP protein directly and displays BMP antagonist activity.

Aspartylglucosaminidase, also known as AGA, takes part in the catabolism of Nlinked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. AGA is a protein coding gene which cleaves asparagine from N-acetylglucosamines in the lysosomal breakdown of glycoproteins.

SlyD accessiton#: NP_755987 is a putative folding helper protein from the Escherichia coli cytosol, which has N-terminal prolyl isomerase domain of the FKBP type and a most likely unstructured C-terminal tail. SlyD is an important factor in the biosynthesis of the metal cluster in the [NiFe]-hydrogenase enzymes, and exhibits several activities including that of a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase.

Procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer 1, also known as PCOLCE binds to the C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen and enhances procollagen C-proteinase activity. In addition, C-terminal processed part of PCPE (CT-PCPE) has a metalloproteinase inhibitory activity. Among the diseases which are associated with PCOLCE: bone fracture & oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Pro-opiomelanocortin preproprotein (POMC) is a polypeptide hormone precursor which experiences extensive, tissue-specific, post-translational processing via cleavage by subtilisin-like enzymes known as prohormone convertases. POMC regulates the corticosteroid production in the adrenal cortex. Furthermore, POMC is cleaved into ten hormone chains named NPP, g-MSH, ACTH, a-MSH, CLIP, Lipotropin b, Lipotropin g, b-MSH,b endorphin and Met-enkephalin. POMC gene defects are the cause of POMC deficiency, which is characterized by red hair and adrenal insufficiency.

Pregnancy Specific Beta-1-Glycoprotein 1 (PSG1) is a member of a subgroup of transcription factors which are phosphorylated upon binding to promoter sequences. PSGs belong to the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family and function as early biochemical markers of syncytiotrophoblast formation. Furthermore, PSG1 is assumed to mediate placental vascular morphogenesis by enhancing VEGF-A production and endothelial tube formation. PSG1 is a major product of the syncytiotrophoblast, reaching concentrations of 100- 290 mg/l at term in the serum of pregnant women.

Galectin-16 (LGALS16) binds lactose with high affinity. LGALS16 is a strong inducer of T-cell apoptosis.

Leptin is a protein hormone. It is mainly produced in adipose cells that regulate energy homeostasis by restraining hunger. Leptin ties to nuclear receptors in the hypothalamus (arcuate nucleus). Similar to insulin resistance in type II diabetes, in obesity there is a decrease in the sensitivity towards leptin, ending in a failure to identify satiety, even in high levels of energy stores or leptin itself. Full-length cDNA encoding 2 leptin sequences (tLepA and tLepB) and 1 leptin receptor sequence (tLepR) exists in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The full-length cDNA of tLepR is 3423 bp, encoding a protein of 1140 amino acid which contained all functionally important domains conserved among vertebrate leptin receptors. The cDNAs of tLepA and tLepB are 486 bp and 459 bp in length, encoding proteins of 161 aa and 152 aa, respectively. The three-dimensional structures of tLepA and tLepB demonstrates strong conservation of tertiary structure with that of human leptin comprised of 4 helixes.

PLA2G7 is a secreted enzyme which catalyzes the degradation of platelet-activating factor to biologically inactive products. The PLA2G7 enzyme is produced by inflammatory cells and hydrolyzes oxidised phospholipids in LDL. In the blood, PLA2G7 goes mainly with LDL and less than 20% is coupled with HDL.
PLA2G7 is implicated in the development of atherosclerosis and is also a marker for cardiac disease. PLA2G7 might have a major physiologic effect in the presence of inflammatory bodily responses.
PLA2G7 alters the action of PAF (platelet-activating factor) by hydrolyzing the sn-2 ester bond to yield the biologically inactive lyso-PAF. PLA2G7 has specificity for substrates with a short residue at the sn-2 position. PLA2G7 is inactive against long-chain phospholipids.
PLA2G7 gene defects are the source of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase deficiency, which is a trait that is present in 27% of the Japanese population.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 position of membrane glycerophospholipids to liberate arachidonic acid (AA), a precursor of eicosanoids including prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The same reaction also produces lysophosholipids, which represent another class of lipid mediators.
The secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) family, in which 10 isozymes have been identified, consists of low molecular weight, Ca2+-requiring secretory enzymes that have been implicated in a number of biological processes, such as modification of eicosanoid generation, inflammation, and host defense.This enzyme has been proposed to hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine (PC) in lipoproteins to liberate lyso-PC and free fatty acids in the arterial wall, thereby facilitating the accumulation of bioactive lipids and modified lipoproteins in atherosclerotic foci.
In mice, sPLA2 expression significantly influences HDL particle size and composition and demonstrate that an induction of sPLA2 is required for the decrease in plasma HDL cholesterol in response to inflammatory stimuli. Instillation of bacteria into the bronchi was associated with surfactant degradation and a decrease in large:small ratio of surfactant aggregates in rats.

PKLR is a pyruvate kinase which catalyzes the transphosphorylation of phohsphoenolpyruvate into pyruvate and ATP. That is the rate-limiting step of glycolysis. PKLR gene encodes the L- and R-type isoenzymes through alternate splicing events controlled by different promoters. L-type isoform can also appear as a tetramer and is upregulated by glucose with implications in maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 position of membrane glycerophospholipids to liberate arachidonic acid (AA), a precursor of eicosanoids including prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The same reaction also produces lysophosholipids, which represent another class of lipid mediators.
The secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) family, in which 10 isozymes have been identified, consists of low molecular weight, Ca2+-requiring secretory enzymes that have been implicated in a number of biological processes, such as modification of eicosanoid generation, inflammation, and host defense.
This enzyme has been proposed to hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine (PC) in lipoproteins to liberate lyso-PC and free fatty acids in the arterial wall, thereby facilitating the accumulation of bioactive lipids and modified lipoproteins in atherosclerotic foci.
In mice, sPLA2 expression significantly influences HDL particle size and composition and demonstrate that an induction of sPLA2 is required for the decrease in plasma HDL cholesterol in response to inflammatory stimuli. Instillation of bacteria into the bronchi was associated with surfactant degradation and a decrease in large:small ratio of surfactant aggregates in rats.

Hematopoietic Prostaglandin D Synthase (HPGDS) belongs to the sigma class glutathione-S-transferase family. The HPGDS enzyme catalyzes the conversion of PGH2 to PGD2 and has a role in the production of prostanoids in the immune system and mast cells. The presence of the HPGDS enzyme can be utilized to identify the differentiation stage of human megakaryocytes. Furthermore, HPGDS is a prostaglandin involved in smooth muscle contraction/relaxation and an effective inhibitor of platelet aggregation, and the conjugation of glutathione with a extensive range of aryl halides and organic isothiocyanates. In addition, HPGDS displays low glutathione-peroxidase activity towards cumene hydroperoxide. HPGDS is expressed in a number of megakaryocytic cell lines but not in platelets. HPGDS is highly expressed in the adipose tissue, macrophages and placenta; however it is expressed at lower levels in the lung, heart, lymph nodes, appendix, bone marrow and fetal liver.

Prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase (PTGDS) is a glutathione-independent prostaglandin D synthase which catalyzes the conversion of prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) to postaglandin D2 (PGD2). PTGDS is may have vital roles in both maturation and maintenance of the central nervous system and male reproductive system. PTGDS is the most abundant protein in the cerebral spinal fluid and recent evidence suggests that PTGDS acts as a beta-amyloid chaperone and may play a role in the deposition of Ab plaques in Alzheimer’s disease.

PTGES2 is a membrane-associated prostaglandin E synthase, which catalyzes the conversion of prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin E2. Additionally, PTGES2 activates the transcription regulated by a gamma-INF-activated transcription element. PTGES2 is widely expressed- in the heart, including apex, inter-ventricular septum, both atria and ventricles, but not in the aorta. PTGES2 is also expressed in fetal heart. PTGES2 is detected in various regions of the brain: cerebellum; occipital, frontal and parietal lobes. It is also expressed in the lymph nodes, skeletal muscle, kidney and trachea, but not in the thymus or lung. PTGES2 is overexpressed in colorectal cancer.

Galectin-3 mediates with the alpha-3, beta-1 integrin the stimulation by cspg4 of endothelial cells migration. Galectin-3 plays an necessary part during the acquisition of vasculogenic mimicry and angiogenic properties associated with melanoma progression. LGALS3 overexpression is highly expressed in early stages of papillary carcinoma, and its expression intensity declines during tumor progression. Serum levels of LGALS3 are high in patients with thyroid malignancy but there is considerable overlap in serum LGALS3 concentrations between those with benign and malignant nodular thyroid disease. LGLAS3 takes part as an immune regulator to inhibit T-cell immune responses and promote tumor growth, as a result providing a new mechanism for tumor immune tolerance.

LGALS2 is a soluble beta-galactoside binding lectin that controls cell-to-cell adhesion and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions and takes part in tumor progression, pre-mRNA splicing and apoptosis. LGALS2 induces apoptosis in activated T cells and binds to the cytokine lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) with threat of myocardial infarction.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a peptide hormoneproduced in pregnancy, that is made by the embryosoon after conceptionand later by the syncytiotrophoblast(part of the placenta). Its role is to prevent the disintegration of the corpus luteumof the ovaryand thereby maintain progesteroneproduction that is critical for a pregnancyin humans. hCG may have additional functions, for instance it is thought that it affects the immune tolerance of the pregnancy. Early pregnancy testinggenerally is based on the detection or measurement of hCG.

Homeodomain-only protein (HOPX) functions via its interaction with SRF, thus modulating the expression of SRF-dependent cardiac-specific genes and cardiac development. HOPX inhibits SRF-dependent transcription either by hindering SRF binding to DNA or by engaging histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins which prevent transcription by SRF. HOPX is a homeodomain protein which lacks certain conserved residues required for DNA binding. HOPX overexpression causes cardiac hypertrophy.