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Chromogranin A is a 439 amino acid protein which is encoded on chromosome 14 and is present in neuroendocrine cells throughout the body, including the neuroendocrine cells of the large and small intestine, adrenal medulla and pancreatic islets. It is an excellent marker for carcinoid tumors, phenochromocytomas, paragangliomas, and other neuroendocrine tumors.
Coexpression of chromogranin A and neuron specific enolase (NSE) is common in neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF) is a small integral membrane protein of lysosome/late endosome. The expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha in Lipopolysaccharide-induced processes is mediated by LITAF. LITAF connects to STAT6B, which belongs to the STAT6 family forming a complex on the TNF-alpha promoter that modifies TNF activity. High levels of expression of LITAF mRNA are observed mostly in the placenta, peripheral blood leukocytes, lymph nodes and spleen.

PSMA6 belongs to the peptidase T1A family, which is a 20S core alpha subunit. The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with an extremely organized ring-shaped 20S core structure. The core structure consists of 4 rings of 28 non-identical subunits; 2 rings consist of 7 alpha subunits and 2 rings consist of 7 beta subunits. PSMA6 is spread all over eukaryotic cells in large quantities and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent procedure in a non-lysosomal pathway.

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.

PSMF1 is a protein which hinders the activation of the proteasome by the 11S and 19S regulators. The 26S proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with an extremely ordered structure composed of 2 complexes, a 20S core and a 19S regulator. The 20S core is comprised of 4 rings of 28 non-identical subunits; 2 rings are composed of 7 alpha subunits and 2 rings are composed of 7 beta subunits.

Clathrin light chain B (CLTB) is a member of the clathrin light chain family. Clathrin is a protein that has a key role in the formation of coated vesicles. CLTB functions as the key structural component of the lattice-type cytoplasmic face of coated pits and vesicles which capture certain macromolecules during receptor-mediated endocytosis. CLTB forms a triskelion form comprised of 3 clathrin heavy chains and 3 light chains. When the triskelia interact they form a polyhedral pattern which encircles the vesicle. CME (Clathrin-mediated endocytosis) controls numerous cellular physiological processes such as the internalization of growth factors and receptors, entry of pathogens, and synaptic transmission.

rRNA-processing protein UTP23 homolog (UTP23) is a small subunit (SSU) processome component. The SSU processome is a complex involved in ribosome biogenesis and essential for pre-18S rRNA maturation. UTP23 is vital for the first 3 cleavage steps in 18S rRNA maturation. Furthermore, single-point mutations in the conserved putative active site of Utp24 but not Utp23 annul its function in ribosome biogenesis.

VAMP3 is present in recycling endosomes and endosome-derived vesicles. VAMP3 has been implicated in recycling of transferrin receptors to the plasma membrane, secretion of alpha-granules in platelets, recycling of T-cell receptors to the immunological synapses, and membrane trafficking during cell migration. VAMP-3 is present in human platelets and necessary for granule secretion. Synaptobrevins are the main components of a protein complex involved in the docking and/or fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. VAMP3 high homology to other VAMPs in its broad tissue distribution and subcellular localization is shown to be the human equivalent of the rodent cellubrevin. In platelets the protein resides on a compartment that is not mobilized to the plasma membrane on calcium or thrombin stimulation.

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.

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.

RAB3A Interacting Protein Like 1 (RAB3IL1) is a 382 amino acid protein which is a member of the SEC2 family. RAB3IL1 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rab3A. RAB3IL1 competes for interaction with Rab3A and IHPK1 via its coiled coil domain, which doesn’t involve IHPK1 kinase activity.

MAT1A catalyzes a two-step reaction that involves the transfer of the adenosyl moiety of ATP to methionine to form S-adenosylmethionine and tripolyphosphate, which is subsequently cleaved to PPi and Pi. S-adenosylmethionine is the source of methyl groups for most biological methylations. MAT1A is found as a homotetramer (MAT I) or a homodimer (MAT III) whereas a third form, MAT II (gamma), is encoded by the MAT2A gene. Mutations in MAT1A gene are associated with methionine adenosyltransferase deficiency. MAT1A expression also correlates with a differentiated phenotype, whereas liver cells expressing MAT2A present a dedifferentiated phenotype and lowered AdoMet synthesis. Likewise, NFκB and TNFα cause a switch from MAT1A to MAT2A expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which facilitates cancer cell growth.

Vesicular overexpressed in cancer prosurvival protein 1 (VOPP1) has been previously shown to be over-expressed in human glioblastoma multiform and squamous cell carcinoma. VOPP1 is a crucial regulator of NF-kappaB signaling, and this high-level, amplification-mediated VOPP1 expression, such as that occurring in tumors with amplified EGFR, might impact the resistance to apoptosis.

RNA Binding Motif Protein 18 (RBM18) is comprised of one RNA recognition motif (RRM) domain.

Zinc Finger HIT-Type Containing 1 (ZNHIT1) is a member of the ZNHIT1 family and contains 1 HIT-type zinc finger. The ZNHIT1 protein is induced by DNA damage and appears to have a role in p53-mediated apoptosis induction. ZNHIT1 interacts with MAPK11 and MAPK14 and is a component of the chromatin-remodeling SRCAP complex composed of at least SRCAP, DMAP1, RUVBL1, RUVBL2, ACTL6A, YEATS4, ACTR6 and ZNHIT1. ZNHIT1 binds to NR1D2 and discharges it of its inhibitory effect on the transcription of APOC3 without affecting its DNA-binding activity.

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

Angiotensin is an oligopeptide in the blood that causes vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, and release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex. It is a powerful dipsogen. It is derived from the precursor molecule angiotensinogen, a serum globulin produced in the liver. It plays an important role in the renin-angiotensin system.
The protein encoded by this gene, pre-angiotensinogen or angiotensinogen precursor, is expressed in the liver and is cleaved by the enzyme renin in response to lowered blood pressure. The resulting product, angiotensin I is then cleaved by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) to generate the physiologically active enzyme angiotensin II. The protein is involved in maintaining blood pressure and in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and preeclampsia.

Streptavidin is a tetrameric protein secreted by Streptomyces avidinii which binds firmly to biotin. Streptavidin is wilyde 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.

Mycobacterium antigen ESAT6 has been isolated from low molecular weight fractions of the shot-term-culture filtrate (ST-CF) and it can easily be detected in tuberculosis patients. The export of ESAT-6 which is a potent T-cell antigen, and related proteins requires a dedicated secretory apparatus that is encoded by a group of genes, several of which also code for proteins that are recognized strongly by T cells. The ESAT-6 systems can consequently be considered as immunogenicity islands and there is mounting evidence that the equivalent genes are subject to selective pressure imposed by the immune system of the host. This antigen includes many epitopes detectable in the serum of most patients with tuberculosis (more than 90%). By the attempts to obtain the vaccine on the basis of ESAT-6 it was demonstrated that the optimization of adjuvant is very important when using the combination of dioctadecylammonium bromide and monophosphoryllipide. ESAT-6 is very potential as diagnostic for differentiation between the mycobacterial infection and BCG vaccination. The main topic in ESAT-6 using is in antibody production and in test-systems for tuberculosis elaboration. Early secretory antigen 6 (ESAT6) and cell filtrate protein 10 (CFP10) are 2 antigens secreted as a complex by the replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC).

The Proteinase K enzyme is a member of the Peptidase family S8. Proteinase K is a broad-spectrum serine protease. Proteinase K is capable of digesting hair (keratin), henceforth, the name "Proteinase K". Proteinase K is activated by calcium, the enzyme digests proteins especially after hydrophobic amino acids (aliphatic, aromatic and other hydrophobic amino acids). Proteinase K is frequently utilized in molecular biology to digest protein and remove contamination from preparations of nucleic acid. Addition of Proteinase K to nucleic acid preparations rapidly inactivates nucleases which may otherwise degrade the DNA or RNA during purification. Proteinase K is greatly fitting to this application as the enzyme is active in the presence of chemicals which denature proteins, such as SDS and urea, chelating agents such as EDTA, sulfhydryl reagents, as well as trypsin or chymotrypsin inhibitors. Proteinase K is utilized for the destruction of proteins in cell lysates (tissue, cell culture cells) and for the release of nucleic acids, given that it quite effectively inactivates DNases and RNases.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is an embryonic malignant neoplasm of retinal origin. It almost always presents in early childhood and is often bilateral. Spontaneous regression ('cure') occurs in some cases. Retinoblastoma acts as a regulator of other genes and forms a complex with adenovirus e1a and with sv40 large t antigen. Retinoblastoma acts as a tumor suppressor and modulats functionally certain cellular proteins with which t and e1a compete for pocket binding. Retinoblastoma is potent inhibitor of e2f-mediated trans-activation, recruits and targets histone methyltransferase suv39h1 leading to epigenetic transcriptional repression, inhibits the intrinsic kinase activity of taf1.

TAGLN is a transformation and form-change responsive actin cross-linking/gelling protein that is part of the calponin family. TAGLN is expressed abundantly in fibroblasts and smooth muscle. TAGLN participates in calcium interactions and contractile properties of the cell that contribute to replicative senescence. Throughout embryogenesis, TAGLN is expressed in smooth, cardiac and skeletal muscle, but is limited during late fetal growth and adulthood to all vascular and visceral smooth muscle cells and low levels of expression in heart. TAGLN is downregulated in several transformed cell lines, showing that a decrease of TAGLN expression is an premature indicator of the onset of transformation.

GDF8 is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. This gene is thought to encode a secreted protein which negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth.

Hepatitis B is one of a few known non-retroviralviruses which employ reverse transcriptionas a part of its replication process. (HIV, a completely unrelated virus, also uses reverse transcription, but it is a retrovirus.) HBV invades the cell by binding to surface receptor and become internalized. The viral core particles then migrate to the hepatocyte nucleus and the partially double-stranded, relaxed circular genomes (RC-DNA) are repaired to form a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which is the template for viral genomic and sub-genomic RNAs by cellular RNA polymerase II. Of these, the pregenomic RNA(pgRNA is selectively packaged into progeny capsids and is then reverse-transcribed into new RC-DNA. The core can either bud into the endoplasmic reticulum to be enveloped or exported from the cell or recycled back into the genome for conversion to cccDNA.