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Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 7 (VAMP7) is a member of the synaptobrevin family. VAMP7 is a transmembrane protein, which is a member of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) family. VAMP7 is involved in the targeting and/or fusion of transport vesicles to their target membrane during transport of proteins from the early endosome to the lysosome. VAMP7 localizes to late endosomes and lysosomes and is involved in the fusion of transport vesicles to their target membranes. VAMP7 is essential for heterotypic fusion of late endosomes with lysosomes and homotypic lysosomal fusion. It is also necessary for calcium regulated lysosomal exocytosis. In addition, VAMP7 is involved in the export of chylomicrons from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cis Golgi. Furthermore, VAMP7 is needed for exocytosis of mediators during eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation, and target cell killing by natural killer cells.

MICA (MHC class I chain-related gene A) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that functions as a ligand for human NKG2D. A closely related protein, MICB, shares 85% amino acid identity with MICA. These proteins are distantly related to the MHC class I proteins. They possess three extracellular Ig-like domains, but they have no capacity to bind peptide or interact with ?2-microglobulin. The genes encoding these proteins are found within the Major Histocompatibility Complex on human chromosome 6. The MICA locus is highly polymorphic with more than 50 recognized human alleles. MICA is absent from most cells but is frequently expressed in epithelial tumors and can be induced by bacterial and viral infections. MICA is a ligand for human NKG2D, an activating receptor expressed on NK cells, NKT cells,gammadelta T cells, and CD8+beta T cells. Recognition of MICA by NKG2D results in the activation of cytolytic activity and/or cytokine production by these effector cells. MICA recognition is involved in tumor surveillance, viral infections, and autoimmune diseases.

Platelet factor-4 is a 70-amino acid protein that is released from the alpha-granules of activated platelets and binds with high affinity to heparin. Its major physiologic role appears to be neutralization of heparin-like molecules on the endothelial surface of blood vessels, thereby inhibiting local antithrombin III activity and promoting coagulation. As a strong chemoattractant for neutrophils and fibroblasts, PF4 probably has a role in inflammation and wound repair. Oncostatin-A is a member of the CXC chemokine family. Human PF4 is used for the proof of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Furthermore it is used as an inhibitor in the angiogenesis during tumor therapy.

S100A16 belongs to the S100 protein super family containing calcium-binding EF-hand motifs. S100 proteins are cell and tissue specific and are engaged in various intra and extracellular processes through interacting with specific target proteins. The S100A16 expression is astrocyte-specific. S100A16 accumulates within nucleoli and translocates to the cytoplasm in reaction to Ca(2+) stimulation. S100A16 physically interacts with tumor suppressor protein p53 (which is a known inhibitor of adipogenesis) as determined Immunoprecipitation analysis.

Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins (MIP) belong to the family of chemotactic cytokines known as chemokines. In humans, there are two major forms, MIP-1a and MIP-1b that are now officially named CCL3 and CCL4 respectively. Both are major factors produced by macrophages after they are stimulated with bacterial endotoxins. They activate human granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophilsand basophils) which can lead to acute neutrophilic inflammation. They also induce the synthesis and release of other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6 and TNF-a from fibroblasts and macrophages. The genes for CCL3 and CCL4 are both located on human chromosome 17.

Streptavidin is a tetrameric protein secreted by Streptomyces avidinii which binds firmly to biotin. Streptavidin is widely used in molecular biology through its unique high affinity for the vitamin biotin. The dissociation constant (Kd) of the biotin-streptavidin complex is about ~10-15 mol/L. The strong affinity recognition of biotin and biotinylated molecules has made streptavidin one of the most important components in diagnostics and laboratory kits. The streptavidin/biotin system has one of the biggest free energies of association of yet observed for noncovalent binding of a protein and small ligand in aqueous solution (K_assoc = 10**14). The complexes are also extremely stable over a wide range of temperature and pH.

MAX protein is part of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLHZ) family of transcription factors. MAX forms homodimers and heterodimers with Mad, Mxi1 and Myc. Myc is an oncoprotein implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The homodimers and heterodimers compete for a common DNA target site (the E box) and rearrangement among these dimer forms offers a complex system of transcriptional regulation. In contrast to Myc, which is exceedingly regulated throughout progression during the cell cycle, Max is very stable and is much more abundant than Myc.

Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins (MIP) belong to the family of chemotactic cytokines known as chemokines. In humans, there are two major forms, MIP-1? and MIP-1? that are now officially named CCL3 and CCL4 respectively. Both are major factors produced by macrophages after they are stimulated with bacterial endotoxins. They activate human granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils) which can lead to acute neutrophilic inflammation. They also induce the synthesis and release of other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6 and TNF-? from fibroblasts and macrophages. The genes for CCL3 and CCL4 are both located on human chromosome 17.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

Though the exact role of MMACHC is unknown, its C-terminal region shows similarity to TonB, which is a bacterial protein involved in energy transduction for cobalamin (vitamin B12) uptake. Therefore, it is suggested that MMACHC may have a role in the binding and intracellular trafficking of cobalamin. MMACHC mutations are linked with methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria type cblC. MMACHC is widely expressed, it is expressed at higher level in the fetal liver, however it is also expressed in the spleen, lymph node, thymus and bone marrow. MMACHC is weakly or not expressed in the peripheral blood leukocytes.

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.

The protein encoded by LAMP2 belongs to a family of membrane glycoproteins. This glycoprotein provides selectins with carbohydrate ligands LAMP2 takes part in tumor cell metastasis and in addition has a role in the protection, maintenance, and adhesion of the lysosome. The effect of alternative splicing of this gene is multiple transcript variants encoding distinct proteins.

COX Assembly Mitochondrial Protein 1(CMC1) is a member of the CMC family. CMC1 is required for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) assembly and respiration. CMC1 attaches copper and might be involved in copper trafficking and distribution to COX and SOD1.

GADD45GIP1 is a nuclear protein which takes part in apoptosis control. GADD45GIP1 is expressed in several tissues, such as heart, thyroid, trachea, kidney, ovary, pancreas, testis and stomach and acts as a negative regulator of G1 to S phase cell cycle production by collaborating with GADD45 proteins to inhibit the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases.

Axin interactor, dorsalization-associated (AIDA) operates as a ventralizing factor during embryogenesis. AIDA inhibits axin-mediated JNK activation by binding axin and disrupting axin homodimerization. That in turn antagonizes a Wnt/beta-catenin-independent dorsalization pathway activated by AXIN/JNK-signaling.

LRPAP1 is a member of the alpha-2-MRAP family. LRPAP1 cooperates with LRP1/alpha-2-macroglobulin receptor and glycoprotein 330. LRPAP1, located on the cell surface, creates a complex with the alpha 2 macroglobulin receptor light and heavy chains and has part in the pathogenesis of membrane glomerular nephritis.

CCL15, a new human CC chemokine, was isolated from a human fetal spleen cDNA library. CCL15 cDNA encodes a predicted 113 amino acid (aa) protein containing a putative signal peptide of 21 amino acids that is cleaved to generate a 92 aa residue mature protein. Within the CC family members, human CCL15 shares 45%, 44%, 35%, and 30% aa homology with mouse C10, human MPIF-1, human HCC-1, and mouse MIP-1?, respectively. The gene for MIP-5 is found on chromosome 17 where the genes for most of the human CC chemokines are located. Human CCL15 is expressed in T and B lymphocytes, NK cells, monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Human MIP-5 is chemotactic for T cells and monocytes and has been shown to induce calcium flux in human CCR-1-transfected cells.

Cadherin-5 (CDH5) belongs to the atypical/type 2 subgroup of Cadherin homophilic adhesion proteins. Cadherin-5 is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, which is comprised of 5 extracellular cadherin repeats, a transmembrane region and a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail. Cadherin-5 protein plays a role in the formation, maturation and remodeling of the vascular wall. CDH5 is generally considered to be specific for vascular endothelia in which it is either the sole or the predominant cadherin, often co-existing with N-cadherin. Moreover, the CDH5 protein regulates or is regulated by VEGF R2, type 1 and type 2 TGF-beta receptors, and other endothelial junction proteins such as JAM-C, Claudin-5, and N-Cadherin. CDH5 also connects with alpha-catenin forming a link to the cytoskeleton. CDH5 functions jointly with KRIT1 to create and maintain correct endothelial cell polarity and vascular lumen. Furthermore, Cadherin-5 is essential for activation of PRKCZ and for the localization of phosphorylated PRKCZ, PARD3, TIAM1 and RAP1B to the cell junction. The CDH5 gene is located in a gene cluster in a region on the long arm of chromosome 16 which is involved in loss of heterozygosity events in breast and prostate cancer.

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.

GABARAPL1 [Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-associated protein-like 1] is a member of the MAP1 LC3 family. GABARAPL1 increases cell surface expression of kappa type opioid receptor through facilitating anterograde intracellular trafficking of the receptor.

Actin Filament Associated Protein 1 (AFAP1) is a Src binding partner. AFAP1 is a possible modulator of actin filament integrity in response to cellular signals, and is also playing a role as an adaptor protein by connecting Src family members to actin filaments. AFAP1 takes partin the development and progression of prostate adenocarcinoma by regulating cell-matrix adhesions and migration in the cancer cells.

Fibronectin Leucine Rich Transmembrane Protein 3, also known as FLRT3 is a member of the fibronectin leucine rich transmembrane protein (FLRT) family. FLRT3 contains one fibronectin type-III domain as well as 10 LRR (leucine-rich) repeats and is expressed in the kidney, brain, pancreas, skeletal muscle, lung, liver, placenta, and heart. In addition, the members of the FLRT family play a role in cell adhesion as well as receptor signaling. FLRT3 has been implicated in neurite outgrowth after nerve damage, as a positive regulator of FGF signalling and in homotypic cell adhesion. Furthermore, FLRT3 has an essential function in regulating cellular adhesion among the epithelial apical ridge and the underlying mesenchyme and also in the establishment of the dorso-ventral position of the ridge.

PHD finger protein 11 (PHF11) is a regulator of TH1-type cytokine gene expression. The decline in PHF11 expression observed with an AD-associated genotype may promote the intense TH2 reactions which characterize numerous allergic individuals. PHF11 is linked with raised total serum IgE levels, asthma and acute atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. Even though PHF11 includes a plant homeodomain, a motif frequently found in transcriptional regulators, PHF11 function of has yet been examined.

Peptidase Inhibitor 16 (PI16) which a member of the CRISP family, is a putative serine protease inhibitor. PI16 interacts with PSP94/MSMB. PI16 is expressed in the prostate, testis, ovary and intestine. It also concentrates in prostate cancer patient's sera. PI16 may serve as a marker following prostatectomy for prostate cancer.