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Bcl2 modifying factor, is a member of the Bcl2 protein family of apoptosis mediators. Bcl2 modifying factor is widely expressed in many tissues.
Bcl2 modifying factor contains a single Bcl2 homology domain 3 (BH3), and binds Bcl2 proteins and functions as an apoptotic activator. Also, Bcl2 modifying factor is important for histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors which alters the balance between acetylation and deacetylation, significantly increasing histone acetylation, while strongly inducing apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell types. Bcl2 modifying factor supports Bim in regulating cell death processes in response to many stimuli. A synergistic role for bim and Bcl2 modifying factor in an apoptotic pathway leading to the clearance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae -infected cells.

TNFRSF6B is a member of the Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. TNFRSF6B performs as a decoy receptor which races against death receptors for ligand binding. TNFRSF6B has a regulatory role in suppressing FasL- and LIGHT-mediated cell death and T cell activation in addition to inducing angiogenesis via neutralization of TL1A.

FGF-basic is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The heparin-binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor belongs to the CCN family of proteins. The CCN family presently consists of six members in human also known as: Cyr61 (Cystein rich 61), CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor), Nov (Nephroblastoma Overexpressed gene), WISP-1, 2 and 3 (Wnt-1 Induced Secreted Proteins). The CCN genes encode secreted proteins associated with the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cell membrane.
CCN proteins are matricellular proteins which are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including: proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. They are expressed in derivatives of the three embryonic sheets and are implicated in the development of kidney, nervous system, muscle, bone marrow, cartilage and bone. During adulthood, they are implicated in wound healing, bone fracture repair, and pathologies such as: fibrosis, vascular ailments and tumorigenesis.
Full length secreted CCN proteins can show an antiproliferative activity, whereas truncated isoforms are likely to stimulate proliferation and behave as oncogenes.
The full length protein consists of four modulesModule I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the IGFBPs.
Module II includes a stretch of 70amino acid residues – which shares sequence identity with the Von Willebrand Factor Type C repeat (VWC).
Module III contains sequences sharing identity with the Thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) (WSXCSXXCG), which is thought to be implicated in the binding of sulfated glycoconjugates and to be important for cell adhesion.
Module IV, also designated CT, is encoded by exon5. It is the leasts conserved one of the four domains at the level of nucleotide sequence, but it appears to be critical for several of the biological functions attributed to the CCN proteins. Module IV resembles the CT domain of several extracellular protein including, Von Willebrand's factor and mucins. Sequence similarities to binding motifs are also found within this domain.
Proteolysis of the secreted full-length CCN proteins that has been reported in the case of CCN2 and CCN3 might result in the production of CCN-derived peptides with high affinity for ligands that full-length CNN proteins bind only poorly. Amino-truncated CCN2 isoforms were biologically active whereas no specific biological activity has been attributed to the truncated CCN3. Although the molecular processes underlying the production of these secreted isoforms is presently unknown, it is important to note that proteolysis occur at the same amino acid residues in both CCN2 and CCN3. An elevated expression of CCN2 has also been detected by Northern blotting in human invasive mammary ductal carcinomas, dermatofibromas, pyogenic granuloma, endothelial cells of angiolipomas and angioleiomyomas, and in pancreatic tumors. A study performed with chondrosarcomas representative of various histological grades established that CCN2 expression was closely correlated with increasing levels of malignancy.
In agreement with CCN2 playing a role in brain tumor angiogenesis, immunocytochemistry studies indicated that both glioblastoma tumor cells and proliferating endothelial cells stained positive for CCN2. In astrocytomas, CCN2 expression was particularly elevated in high grade tumors, with a marked effect of CCN2 on cell proliferation. Downregulation of CCN2 expression in these cells was associated with a growth arrest at the G1/S transition while over-expression of CCN2 induced a two-fold increase of the number of cells in the G1 phase. Gene profiling analysis allowed to identify a set of about 50 genes whose expression might account for the proliferative activity of CCN2 in these cells.
CCN2 was seen in a higher proportion of mononuclear cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

NGF-beta has nerve growth stimulating activity and the complex is involved in the regulation of growth and the differentiation of sympathetic and certain sensory neurons. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 5 (HSAN5), and dysregulation of this gene's expression is associated with allergic rhinitis.

Lymphotoxin alpha, a member of the tumor necrosis factor family, is a cytokine produced by lymphocytes. LTA is highly inducible, secreted, and exists as homotrimeric molecule. LTA forms heterotrimers with lymphotoxin-beta which anchors lymphotoxin-alpha to the cell surface. LTA mediates a large variety of inflammatory, immunostimulatory, and antiviral responses. LTA is also involved in the formation of secondary lymphoid organs during development and plays a role in apoptosis.

GCSF is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes. The active protein is found extracellularly. Three transcript variants encoding three different isoforms have been found for the GCSF gene. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factors are cytokines that act in hematopoiesis by controlling the production, differentiation, and function of 2 related white cell populations of the blood, the granulocytes and the monocytes-macrophages. This csf induces granulocytes.

Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that belongs to the transferrin family of iron binding proteins. It is found in human breast milk as well as most epithelial surface secretions including tears, nasogastric, saliva, and bronchial. Lactoferrin binds 2 molecules of iron with very high affinity. Lactoferrin inhibits bacterial growth by withholding iron, its N-terminal region is an antimicrobial peptide. Lactotransferrin acts synergistically with lysozyme to potentiate the activity of both proteins. The multifunctional protein lactoferrin has many physiological possible roles. It is often referred to as an innate defense protein and frequently serves as the first line of defense in protection against pathogens. It has been shown to have the ability to bind iron, it is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, it is an antioxidant and it also has immunomodulatory properties. It has many beneficial properties, which make it a good candidate for a number of product applications. Considerable research is currently going on to explain the various suggested biological functions of lactoferrin.

TRAF Family Member-Associated NFKB Activator (TANK) is located in the cytoplasm and binds Either TRAF1, TRAF2 or TRAF3. TANK is an inhibitor of TRAF function which regulates TRAF protein activity via sequestering TRAFs in a dormant position in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of TANK, inhibits TRAF2-mediated NF-Kappa-B activation signaled by CD40 and both TNF receptors and also inhibits LMP1-mediated NFkappa-B activation by blocking the connection of TRAF2 with LMP1.

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.

ATF3 belongs to the mammalian activation transcription factor/cAMP responsive element-binding (CREB) protein family of transcription factors. ATF3 binds the cAMP response element (CRE) (consensus: 5'-GTGACGT[AC][AG]-3'), a sequence present in numerous viral and cellular promoters. Multiple transcript variants encoding two different isoforms are known for this gene. The longer isoform represses transcription from promoters with ATF binding elements instead of activating it. The shorter isoform (deltaZip2) which stimulates transcription by sequestering inhibitory co-factors away from the promoter has no leucine zipper protein-dimerization motif and does not bind to DNA.

MAF1 resembles Maf1 which is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae – a highly conserved protein in eukaryotic cells, localized to the nucleus. MAF1 Interacts with BRF2, MAF1 and functions as a mediator for signals which explicitly inhibit RNA polymerase III (Pol III) activity by inhibiting the association of TFIIIB to DNA. MAF1 reacts to modifications in the cellular environment and represses pol III transcription.

CNTF is a polypeptide hormone whose actions appear to be restricted to the nervous system where it promotes neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth in certain neuronal populations. The protein is a potent survival factor for neurons and oligodendrocytes and may be relevant in reducing tissue destruction during inflammatory attacks. A mutation in this gene, which results in aberrant splicing, leads to ciliary neurotrophic factor deficiency, but this phenotype is not causally related to neurologic disease. In addition to the predominant monocistronic transcript originating from this locus, the gene is also co-transcribed with the upstream ZFP91 gene. Co-transcription from the two loci results in a transcript that contains a complete coding region for the zinc finger protein but lacks a complete coding region for ciliary neurotrophic factor.
CNTF is a survival factor for various neuronal cell types. Seems to prevent the degeneration of motor axons after axotomy.

LFA-3 is ligand of the t-lymphocyte cd2 glycoprotein. This interaction is important in mediating thymocyte interactions with thymic epithelial cells, antigen-independent and dependent interactions of t-lymphocytes with target cells and antigen- presenting cells and the t-lymphocyte rosetting with erythrocytes. In addition, the lfa-3/cd2 interaction may prime response by both the cd2+ and lfa-3+ cells.

Stem cell factor / KIT ligand (SCF) is a cytokine which binds CD117(c-Kit). SCF is also known as "steel factor" or "c-kit ligand". SCF exists in two forms, cell surface bound SCF and soluble (or free) SCF. Soluble SCF is produced by the cleavage of surface bound SCF by metalloproteases. SCF is a growth factor important for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and other hematopoietic progenitor cells. One of its roles is to change the BFU-E (burst-forming unit-erythroid) cells, which are the earliest erythrocyte precursors in the erythrocytic series, into the CFU-E (colony-forming unit-erythroid).

Penta-EF-hand domain containing 1 (PEF1) is a member of the penta-EF-hand protein family, which shares similarities to the apoptosis linked gene ALG-2. PEF1 forms heterodimers with PDCD6/ALG2 and dissociates from PDCD6/ALG2 in the presence of Ca (2+). Furthermore, PEF1 proteins bind calcium and participate in a various calcium-dependent processes in vertebrates.

Mitochondrial Ribosome Recycling Factor (MRRF) is a member of the RRF family. MRRF attaches to the large ribosomal subunit in the cleft which has a peptidyl transferase center. MRRF controls the release of ribosome from messenger RNA at the termination of protein biosynthesis. Also, it may intensify the efficacy of translation by recycling ribosome from one round of translation to another.

Proteins of the TFF family are characterized by obtaining a minimum of 1 copy of the trefoil motif, a 40-amino acid domain that contains 3 conserved disulfides. Trefoil Factors are stable secretory proteins expressed in gastrointestinal mucosa which protect the mucosa from insults, stabilize the mucus layer and affect healing of the epithelium.TFF2 inhibits gastric acid motility & secretion. TFF2 stabilizes glycoproteins in the mucus gel through interactions with carbohydrate side chains.

E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF4 (RNF4) contains a RING finger motif and functions as a transcription regulator. RNF4 interacts with, and inhibits the activity of, TRPS1, a transcription suppressor of GATA-mediated transcription. Transcription repressor ZNF278/PATZ also interacts with the RNF4 protein thus reducing the enhancement of androgen receptor-dependent transcription mediated by RNF4. RNF4 is broadly expressed at low levels in many tissues and highly expressed in the testis.

TNFR2 belongs to the TNF-receptor superfamily. TNFR2 is receptor with high affinity for TNFSF2/TNF-alpha and approximately 5-fold lower affinity for homotrimeric TNFSF1/lymphotoxin-alpha. TNFR2 mediates the majority of the metabolic effects of TNF-alpha. In addition, knockout studies in mice propose a role for TNFR2 in protecting neurons from apoptosis by stimulating antioxidative pathways. TNFR2 expression might have a significant role in the angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation and metastasis of Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast.
There are 2 types of soluble TNF receptors: sTNFR-I and sTNFR-II, which act to neutralize the biological activities of TNF alpha and TNF beta. The levels of these soluble receptors seem to increase as a result of shedding of the extracellular domains of the membrane bound receptors. High levels of soluble TNF receptors are found in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. TNFR2 and TNFR1 form a heterocomplex which mediates the recruitment of 2 anti-apoptotic proteins, c-IAP1 and c-IAP2, which possess E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. IAPs’ function in TNF-receptor signaling is unknown; nevertheless, c-IAP1 is believed to potentiate TNF-induced apoptosis by the ubiquitination and degradation of TNF-receptor-associated factor 2, which mediates anti-apoptotic signals. Oxidative stress promotes TNFR1 and TNFR2 self-interaction, ligand-independent and enhanced ligand-dependent TNF signaling. TNF-a, TNFR1 and TNFR2 have roles in cellular differentiation. TNFR1 and TNFR2 function in cell type-specific renal injury.

Thyrotroph embryonic factor (TEF) is a nuclear transcription factor which is a part of the bZIP (basic region/leucine zipper) family and PAR subfamily. TEF binds DNA as either a homodimer or heterodimer, and is known to transactivate the TSH beta promoter. TEF accumulates according to a robust circadian rhythm and is also inhibits cell growth by down-regulating beta chain expression of cytokine receptors.

Osteoprotegerin acts as decoy receptor for rankl and thereby neutralizes its function in osteoclastogenesis. OPG inhibits the activation of osteoclasts and promotes osteoclast apoptosis in vitro. Bone homeostasis seems to depend on the local rankl/opg ratio. Osteoprotegerin may also play a role in preventing arterial calcification. May act as decoy receptor for trail and protect against apoptosis. Trail binding blocks the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis.

TNFRSF4, also known as TNF Receptor Superfamily Member 4, is a T cell co-stimulatory molecule which belongs to the TNF receptor superfamily. TNFRSF4 coordinates with other co-stimulatory substances such as CD28, CD40, CD30, CD27 and 4-1BB to control the activation of the immune response. TNFRSF4 takes a vital part in antigen-specific T cell expansion as well as survival. TNFRSF4 is up-regulated on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells upon engagement of the TCR by antigen presenting cells along with co-stimulation by CD40-CD40 Ligand and CD28-B7. In addition, TNFRSF4 regulates cytokine production from T cells, antigen presenting cells, natural killer cells and natural killer cells. TNFRSF4 regulates cytokine receptor signaling.

Proteins of the TFF family are characterized by obtaining a minimum of 1 copy of the trefoil motif, a 40-amino acid domain that contains 3 conserved disulfides. Trefoil Factors are stable secretory proteins expressed in gastrointestinal mucosa which protect the mucosa from insults, stabilize the mucus layer and affect healing of the epithelium.TFF2 inhibits gastric acid motility & secretion. TFF2 stabilizes glycoproteins in the mucus gel through interactions with carbohydrate side chains.