Search results

RAP1A is part of the family of RAS-related proteins which possess 50% amino acid identity with the classical RAS proteins and have various structural characteristics in common. RAP proteins differ from RAS proteins in their 61st amino acid, glutamine in RAS is replaced by threonine in RAP proteins. RAP1A induces morphological reversion of a cell line transformed by a Ras oncogene and counteracts the mitogenic function of Ras, since it can interact with Ras GAPs and RAF in a competitive manner.

CAMP belongs to the antimicrobial peptide family, contains highly conserved N-terminal signal peptide, a cathelin domain and a structurally variable cationic antimicrobial peptide that produced by extracellular proteolysis from the C-terminus. CAMP has numerous functions besides the antimicrobial activity such as: cell chemotaxis, immune mediator induction and inflammatory response regulation.

MMP9 is part of the matrix metalloproteinase family. MMP enzymes take part in the dismantle of extracellular matrix in different physiological pathways, for instance wound healing, bone development, reproduction etc. the enzyme is also involved in pathological pathways: metastasis, arthritis and intracerebral hemorrhage.

Ornithine decarboxylase is the preliminary and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of polyamines and it takes part in the alteration of ornithine to putrescine. ODC1 is a key member of various biological processes, such as cell growth, transformation, differentiation and apoptosis. Overexpression of the ODC1 gene has a vital part in cell proliferation and the progress of cancer.

Chromosome 19 Open Reading Frame 80 (C19ORF80) is a significant new regulator of lipid metabolism which regulates serum triglyceride levels, possibly by promoting ANGPTL3 cleavage. C19ORF80 belongs to the ANGPTL protein family. C19ORF80 is a hormone which specifically promotes pancreatic beta cell proliferation and beta cell mass expansion, thus improving glucose tolerance. C19ORF80 is mainly expressed in the liver; it is also expressed in adipose tissues. C19ORF80 is expressed in response to food intake and stimulated by insulin.

RELM-beta (Resistin-Like Molecule-beta) is a member of a recently identified family of secreted proteins containing a conserved cystein-rich C-terminus. The RELM family consists of resistin (also called FIZZ3), RELM-alfa (FIZZ1), RELM-beta (FIZZ2) and RELM-gamma. Only resisistin and RELM-beta were found in humans whereas all four RELM family members were identified in rodents.
RELM-beta appears to be produced as a homodimer exclusively by intestinal goblet cells and can be found in high quantities in stool. Remarkably, stool of germ-free mice displaying sterile intestinal tract does not contain RELM-beta until bacterial colonization takes place after pathogen-free mice entered natural environment. Some, but not all, colon carcinoma cell lines secrete RELM-beta into the cell culture supernatant.
The physiological function of RELM-beta is not known. High doses of recombinant RELM-beta showed hyperglycemic effects including lowered glucose disposal and increased hepatic glucose production in mice.

The somatomedins, or IGFs, comprise a family of peptides that play important roles in mammalian growth and development. IGF1 mediates many of the growth-promoting effects of GH. Early studies showed that GH did not directly stimulate the incorporation of sulfate into cartilage, but rather acted through a serum factor, termed 'sulfation factor,' which later became known as somatomedin. Three main somatomedins have been characterized: somatomedin C (IGF1), somatomedin A (IGF2), and somatomedin B.

STMN2 is a neuronal growth-associated protein which shares a majority of its amino acid sequence with the phosphoprotein stathmin. STMN2 is involved in neuronal differentiation and in modulating membrane interaction with the cytoskeleton through neurite outgrowth. STMN2 is necessary for maintaining the anchorage-independent growth state of beta-catenin/TCF-activated hepatoma cells. SCG10 is a novel indicator of osteogenesis and osteoblast that takes part in the regulation of the adipocyte/osteoblast balance. STMN2 plays a role as an effector downstream of Rnd1 to regulate axon extensions by modulating microtubule organization.

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.

Lxn also known as Latexin is a member of the protease inhibitor I47 (latexin) family. Lxn's function is hardly reversible, non-competitive, as well as potent inhibitor of CPA1, CPA2 and CPA4. Furthermore, Lxn plays a role in inflammation. Among the diseases associated with LXN are endocervicitis and listeriosis.

RAB1B belongs to the RAB protein family, these proteins are low molecular mass monomeric GTPases localized on the cytoplasmic surfaces of distinct membrane bound organelles. RAB1B protein functions in the early secretory pathway and is essential for vesicle transport between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi.

RELM-gamma is a novel member of the resistin-like molecule/found in inflammatory zone (RELM/FIZZ) family in mice and rats. Microarray and real-time RT-PCR experiments revealed a repression of RELMgamma mRNA in nasal respiratory epithelium of cigarette smoke-exposed versus untreated rats. The analysis of the physiological tissue-specific expression revealed highest expression in hematopoietic tissues, suggesting a cytokine-like role for RELM-gamma. RELM-gamma-mRNA is detectable in bone marrow, spleen, and lung as well as in peripheral blood granulocytes. Promyelocytic HL60 cells transfected with a RELM-gamma expression plasmid have an increased proliferation rate compared to mock-transfected cells and display an altered response to retinoic acid-induced granulocytic differentiation. Taken together, these data provide the first experimental evidence that RELM-gamma is a secreted molecule with a restricted expression pattern that may play a role in promyelocytic differentiation.

Osteopontin is a glycoprotein that was first identified in osteoblasts and is involved in bone remodeling, immune functions in fibroblasts, macrophages, and lymphocytes during inflammation and wound healing. SPP1 binds tightly to hydroxyapatite. SPP1 forms an integral part of the mineralized matrix. SPP1 is vital to cell-matrix interaction. Secreted Phosphoprotein-1 protects against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury via late preconditioning. Expression of both Ostepontin and CD44 in hepatocellular carcinoma is linked with advanced tumor stage and contributes to prognosis information. SPP1 is the most over-expressed gene in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Secreted Phosphoprotein-1 overexpression is related with interstitial lung diseases.

Cystatins are a superfamily of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in both plants and animals. They comprise a group of proteinase inhibitors, widely distributed in tissues and body fluids, and form tight complexes with cysteine proteases such as cathepsin B, H, L and S. Cystatin C, a secreted molecule of this family, is of interest from biochemical, medicine and evolutionary points of view. Cystatin C, with molecular weight of 13260 Da, is composed of 120 amino acids, lacks carbohydrate and has two disulfide bridges located near the carboxyl terminus. Cystatin C is increased in patients with malignant diseases, and is related to the insufficiency of renal function and appears to be a better marker than creatinine. On the other hand, low levels of cystatin C involve cause the breakdown of the elastic laminae and, subsequently, the atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Cystatin-SN (CST1) belongs to the type 2 salivary cystatin family found in a variety of fluids and secretions, including plasma, tears, and saliva. The cystatin superfamily includes proteins which contain multiple cystatin-like sequences. Some of the members are active cysteine protease inhibitors, whereas others have lost or possibly never developed this inhibitory activity. CST1 is up-regulated in cancerous lesions of gastric cancer tissues compared to noncancerous regions, in addition clinicopathological analysis revealed a significant correlation between high expression of CST1.

Ras-related protein Rab-35 (RAB35) is restricted to the plasma membrane and endocytic compartments and controls a fast endocytic recycling pathway. Inhibition of Rab35 function leads to the accumulation of endocytic markers on numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles in cells that failed cytokinesis, which is consistent with a central requirement for Rab35-regulated recycling during cell division.

Chemokine (C motif) ligand (XCL1) is a small cytokine belonging to the XC chemokine family that is also known as lymphotactin. It is found in high levels in spleen, thymus, intestine and peripheral blood leukocytes, and at lower levels in lung, prostate gland and ovary. Cellular sources for XCL1 include activated thymic and peripheral blood CD8+ T cells. This chemokine attracts T cells. In humans, XCL1 is closely related to another chemokine called XCL2, whose geneis found at the same locus on chromosome 1. XCL1 induces it chemotactic function by binding to a chemokine receptor called XCR1.

Resistin, a product of the RSTN gene, is a peptide hormone belonging to the class of cysteine-rich secreted proteins which is termed the RELM family, and is also described as ADSF (Adipose Tissue- Specific Secretory Factor) and FIZZ3 (Found in Inflammatory Zone). Human resistin contains 108 amino acids as a prepeptide, and its hydrofobic signal peptide is cleaved before its secretion. Resistin circulates in human blood as a dimeric protein consisting of two 92 amino acid polypeptides, which are disulfide-linked via Cys26.
Resistin may be an important link between obesity and insulin resistance. Mouse resistin, specifically produced and secreted by adipocyte, acts on skeletal muscle myocytes, hepatocytes and adipocytes themselves so that it reduces their sensitivity to insulin. Steppan et al. have suggested that resistin suppresses the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake. They have also suggested that resistin is present at elevated levels in blood of obese mice, and is down regulated by fasting and antidiabetic drugs. Way et al., on the other hand, have found that resistin expression is severly suppressed in obesity and is stimulated by several antidiabetic drugs.
Other studies have shown that mouse resistin increases during the differentiation of adipocytes, but it also seems to inhibit adipogenesis. In contrast, the human adipogenic differentiation is likely to be associated with a down regulation of resistin gene expression.

Cystatin-A is the intracellular inhibitor of cysteine proteinase cathepsin B (CatB) and belongs to family 1 of the cystatin superfamily of inhibitor proteins. CSTA is a stefin that functions as a cysteine protease inhibitor, forming tight complexes with papain and the cathepsins B, H, and L. It has been proposed that extracellular CatB together with other classes of proteinases are all subjected to a cascade-like manner of activation. CatB and its inhibitor Cystatin-A are involved in degradation of extracellular matrix proteins during tissue remodeling. CSTA is one of the precursor proteins of cornified cell envelope in keratinocytes and plays a role in epidermal development and maintenance. Cystatin-A has been reported to be found in high concentrations in epithelial cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphoid tissue. Stefins may be used as prognostic and diagnostic tools for cancer.

Activin A Receptor Type 1 (ACVR1) is a member of TGF-beta serine/threonine kinase receptor family. ACVR1 forms a receptor complex contains2 type II and 2 type I transmembrane serine/threonine kinases. Type II receptors phosphorylate and activate type I receptors which autophosphorylate,bind and activate SMAD transcriptional regulators. ACVR1 takes part in left-right pattern formation during embryogenesis and is also essential in the BMP pathway which is responsible for the development and repair of the skeletal system.ACVR1 is linked to Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva which isknown for the formation of heterotopic bone throughout the body.

ACO1 has a part in an iron sensor. ACO1 catalyzes the stereo-specific isomerization of citrate to isocitrate via cis-aconitate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, a non-redox-active process.

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.

Resistin, also known as adipose tissue-specific secretory factor (ADSF) is a cysteine-rich peptide derived from adipose tissue. Resistin takes part in the inflammatory response, glucose metabolism, and angiogenesis.Resistin blocks insulinstimulated uptake of glucose by adipocytes and promote glucose release by hepatocytes. As such,Resistin considered to participate in diet‑induced insulin-sensitivity. Resistin causes high levels of lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), increasing the risk of heart disease.

Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene, Isoform 2A (KRAS-2A) belongs to the small GTPase superfamily. The KRAS-2A protein is involved in a variety of malignancies, including lung adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenoma, ductal carcinoma of the pancreas and colorectal carcinoma. Ras family members impact cell growth and differentiation events in a subcellular membrane compartmentalization-based signaling system under normal conditions. Oncogenic Ras can deregulate processes which control both cell proliferation and apoptosis.