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Caspase 3 Apoptosis-Related Cysteine Peptidase (CASP3) belongs to the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family. Sequential activation of caspases plays a key role in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis. Caspases exist as inactive proenzymes which undergo proteolytic processing at conserved aspartic residues to generate 2 subunits, large and small, that dimerize to create the active enzyme. CASP3 protein cleaves and activates caspases 6, 7 and 9, and the protein itself is processed by caspases 8, 9 and 10. CASP3 is the leading caspase involved in the cleavage of amyloid-beta 4A precursor protein, which is linked with neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. In addition, CASP3 is involved in the cleavage of huntingtin. CASP3 also cleaves and activates sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) between the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper domain and the membrane attachment domain. CASP3 initiates cell adhesion in sympathetic neurons through RET cleavage.

ALDH1A1 is part of the aldehyde dehydrogenases family.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase is the 2nd protein of the main oxidative pathway of alcohol metabolism. Cytosolic and mitochondrial are 2 main liver isoforms of ALDH that are differentiateed by their electrophoretic mobility, kinetic property, & subcellular localization. The majority of Caucasians have two main isozymes, whereas just about 50% of Orientals have only the cytosolic form, excluding the mitochondrial form. ALDH1A1 is also a member of the group of corneal crystallins that assist the transparency of the cornea.
(Retinal + NAD+ + H2O = retinoate + NADH).

G3BP1 belongs to the heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding proteins and is also an element of the Ras signal transduction pathway. G3BP1 is one of the DNA-unwinding enzymes that favors partially unwound 3'-tailed substrates and is also able to unwind partial RNA/DNA and RNA/RNA duplexes in an ATP-dependent fashion. G3BP1 binds specifically to the Ras-GTPase-activating protein by associating with its SH3 domain. In addition, G3BP1 cleaves exclusively between cytosine and adenine and cleaves MYC mRNA preferentially at the 3'-UTR.

PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and accelerate the folding of proteins. Cyclophilin-A is a cyclosporin binding-protein and may play a role in cyclosporin A-mediated immunosuppression. Cyclophilin-A can also interact with several HIV proteins, including p55 gag, Vpr, and capsid protein, and has been shown to be necessary for the formation of infectious HIV virions. Multiple pseudogenes that map to different chromosomes have been reported.

Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase domain-containing protein 1 (FAHD1) is a member of the FAH family. FAHD1 is considered to have hydrolase activity and it uses Magnesium and Calcium as cofactors. It seems quite likely that the metal binding sites are involved in an enzymatic activity connected to the catabolism of aromatic amino acids.

HPGD is the essential enzyme of prostaglandin degradation. 15-PGDH protein strongly decreases the biologic activity of these molecules by catalyzing the oxidation of the 15-hydroxyl group of prostaglandins to a keto group. GDH1 is involved in numerous physiologic and cellular processes, for instance inflammation.

Capping Protein (Actin Filament) Muscle Z-Line, Alpha 2 also known as CAPZA2 belongs the F-actin capping protein alpha subunit family. It is the alpha subunit of the barbed-end actin binding protein Cap Z. By capping the barbed end of actin filaments, Cap Z regulates the growth of the actin filaments at the barbed end. Among the diseases associated with CAPZA2 are endocarditis, and cervicitis.

Uromodulin is the most abundant protein in normal urine. Its secretion in urine follows proteolytic cleavage of the ectodomain of its glycosyl phosphatidylinosital-anchored counterpart that is situated on the luminal cell surface of the loop of Henle. Uromodulin plays a role as a constitutive inhibitor of calcium crystallization in renal fluids. Secretion of uromodulin in urine provides protection against urinary tract infections caused by uropathogenic bacteria. Defects in Uromodulin expression are associated with the autosomal dominant renal disorders medullary cystic kidney disease-2 (MCKD2) and familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy (FJHN). These disorders are characterized by juvenile onset of hyperuricemia, gout, and progressive renal failure. While several transcript variants may exist for this gene, the full-length natures of only two have been described to date. UMOD is involved in regulating the circulating activity of cytokines as it binds to il-1, il-2 and tnf with high affinity.

GCDH is part of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family. GCDH is localized in the mitochondrial matrix as a homotetramer of 45-kD subunits. GCDH catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of glutaryl-CoA to crotonyl-CoA and CO(2) in the degradative pathway of L-lysine, L-hydroxylysine, and L-tryptophan metabolism. GCDH uses electron transfer flavoprotein as its electron acceptor.

FOS-Like Antigen 2, also known as FOSL2 is a protein which is encoded in humans by the FOSL2 gene. The Fos gene family consists of four members: FOS, FOSB, FOSL1, and FOSL2. Furthermore, these genes encode leucine zipper proteins which can dimerize with proteins of the JUN family, in that way forming the transcription factor complex AP-1. As such, the FOS proteins have been involved as regulators of cell proliferation, differentiation, as well transformation.

NME2 takes an important part in the synthesis of nucleoside triphosphates other than ATP. NME2 negatively controls Rho activity by interacting with AKAP13/LBC. NME2 acts as a transcriptional activator of the MYC gene. NME2 binds DNA non-specifically. NME2 is a heterodimeric enzyme functioning as a nucleoside diphosphate kinase. NME1 and NME2 contain 152 amino acids, A and B polypeptide chains of the NM23 enzyme, respectively. NME2 is identical to the beta subunit of human erythrocyte NDP kinase. NDP kinases participate in the synthesis of nucleoside triphosphates, and NM23 is involved in the regulation of signal transduction by complexing with G proteins, causing activation/inactivation of developmental pathways.

BDH2 is a member of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family. BDH2 protein has a significant part in the peripheral utilization of 3-hydroxybutyrate. BDH2 can convert high levels of circulating 3-hydroxybutyrate into acetoacetate due to cytoplasmic localization in high ratio of oxidized NAD+, the NAD+ dependence and the kinetic parameters.

Antioxidant enzyme Glutathione S- Transferase (GST) is thought to do the primary cellular defense mechanism against reactive oxygen species. GST reduces lipid hydroperoxides through its Se-independent glutathione peroxidase activity. The enzyme also detoxifies lipid peroxidation end products such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE).
The soluble GST is a 26 kDa protein which occurs as a dimer in all aerobic organisms. Each monomer has two domains, one that binds GSH and is an /-structure similar to thioredoxin and the other, all helical, that binds the hydrophobic substrate. The GST -fusion protein expression system is a widely used recombinant protein expression system that allows a peptide or a regulatory protein domain to be expressed as a fusion to the C-terminus of Schistosoma japonicum GST. Fusion proteins also possess GST -enzymatic activity and can undergo dimerization similar to in vivo. The fusion protein can be purified via GST -affinity column chromatography. In most cases, the desired peptides or domains are removed from GST by applying a specific protease that recognizes and cleaves the linker between the protein domain and GST. The technique has been widely used to generate different kinds of proteins for crystallization, molecular immunology studies, the production of vaccines and studies involving protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions.

NEIL1 is a member of a class of DNA glycosylases homologous to the bacterial Fpg/Nei family. These glycosylases initiate the first step in base excision repair by cleaving bases damaged by reactive oxygen species and introducing a DNA strand break via the associated lyase reaction. NEIL1 participates in the DNA repair pathway by initiating base excision repair by removing damaged bases, primarily oxidized pyrimidines.

BTLA, also known as B & T Lymphocyte Associated, is an inhibitory molecule which is part of the Ig superfamily. BTLA is a type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein in the CD28 family of T cell costimulatory molecules. BTLA is a 3rd inhibitory receptor on T lymphocytes with resemblances to CTLA-4 & PD-1. Moreover, BTLA is a ligand for TNF (receptor) superfamily, TNFRSF14, and HVEM. BTLA-HVEM complexes negatively regulate T-cell immune responses.

Protein modification with ubiquitin is an essential cellular mechanism for targeting abnormal or short-lived proteins for degradation. Ubiquitination involves at least 3 classes of enzymes: ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1s) ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) and ubiquitin-protein ligases (E3s). Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme E2G (UBE2G1) belongs to the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family and catalyzes the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to other proteins. UE2G1 protein is involved in degradation of muscle-specific proteins.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2S (UBE2S) belongs to the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family. UBE2S is able to form a thiol ester linkage with ubiquitin in a ubiquitin activating enzyme-dependent manner, a typical property of ubiquitin carrier proteins. UBE2S catalyzes the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to other proteins. UBE2S acts as a crucial factor of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), which is a cell cycle-regulated ubiquitin ligase that controls progression through mitosis. UBE2S acts by purposely elongating 'Lys-11'-linked polyubiquitin chains initiated by the E2 enzyme UBE2C/UBCH10 on APC/C substrates, augmenting the degradation of APC/C substrates by the proteasome and promoting mitotic exit. UBE2S also acts by elongating ubiquitin chains initiated by the E2 enzyme UBE2D1/UBCH5 in vitro; it is nevertheless uncertain whether UBE2D1/UBCH5 acts as an E2 enzyme for the APC/C in vivo. UBE2S is also involved in ubiquitination and consequent degradation of VHL, resulting in an accumulation of HIF1A.

Cyclophilin-D is a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family. PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and speeds up the protein folding. Cyclophilin-D possess PPIase activity and binds to the immunosuppressant cyclosporin-A. Cyclophilin-D is very well known that its overexpression suppresses the apoptosis in cancer cell. Cyclophilin-D suppresses apoptotic cell death by the use of mitochondrial hexokinase-2 dependent mechanism in cancer cells.

Casein kinase 2 subunit alpha (CSNK2A2) controls numerous cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression, apoptosis and transcription, as well as viral infection. CSNK2A2 protein functions as a regulatory node which integrates and coordinates numerous signals leading to an appropriate cellular response.

GSTP1 is a polymorphic gene encoding active, functionally different GSTP1 variant proteins that are believed to function in xenobiotic metabolism and have a part in susceptibility to cancer, and other diseases. GSTP1 is a glutathione S-transferase belonging to the pi class. GST family enzymes play a significant role in detoxification by catalyzing the conjugation of many hydrophobic and electrophilic compounds with reduced glutathione. Based upon the biochemical, immunologic and structural properties of the soluble GSTs they are grouped into 4 main classes: alpha, mu, pi, and theta. The GSTP1 enzyme acts by catalyzing the reaction of glutathione with an acceptor molecule to form a Sulfur-substituted glutathione. The reactions employing glutathione contribute the transformation of a broad range of electrophiles, including reactive products of lipid, protein, carcinogens, therapeutic drugs, environmental toxins, and products of oxidative stress.
The GSTP1 inactivation through CpG hypermethylation is frequent in pituitary adenomas and may be a factor in aggressive pituitary tumor behavior. GSTP1 is may be a transcriptional target of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Single-nucleotide polymorphism in GSTP1 is linked to modified protein binding, which influence GSTP1's contribution to carcinogen and drug metabolism, and possibly disease pathogenesis and/or drug response. GST-pi might have central roles in proliferation of androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells.

PSMG3 is a chaperone protein that promotes assembly of the 20S proteasome. PSMG3 may cooperate with PSMG1-PSMG2 heterodimers to coordinate the correct assembly of proteasomes. PSMG3 interacts with PSMG4, as well as directly with alpha and beta subunits of the 20S proteasome but dissociates prior to the formation of half-proteasomes, probably upon recruitment of POMP.

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are a large family of zinc metalloenzymes which catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. These metalloenzymes participate in various biological processes, including respiration, calcification, acid-base balance, bone resorption, and the formation of aqueous humor, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and gastric acid. The metalloenzymes exhibit extensive diversity in tissue distribution and in their subcellular localization. Carbonic Anhydrase XI (CA11) is probably a secreted protein, nevertheless, drastic changes at active site residues completely conserved in CA isozymes with catalytic activity, make it unlikely that CA11 has carbonic anhydrase activity. CA11 shares properties in common with 2 other acatalytic CA isoforms, CA VIII and CA X. CA11 is amply expressed in the brain, and may have a general role in the central nervous system.

GH is a member of the prolactin family of hormones which play an important role in growth control. The gene, along with four other related genes, is located at the GH locus on chromosome 17 where they are interspersed in the same transcriptional orientation; an arrangement which is thought to have evolved by a series of gene duplications. The five genes share a remarkably high degree of sequence identity. Alternative splicing generates additional isoforms of each of the five GHs, leading to further diversity and potential for specialization. This particular family member is expressed in the pituitary but not in placental tissue as is the case for the other four genes in the GH locus. Mutations in or deletions of the gene lead to GH deficiency and short stature.

Beta-lactamase is a type of enzyme (EC 3.5.2.6) produced by some bacteria that is responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins and carbapenems. These antibiotics have a common element in their molecular structure: a four-atom ring known as a beta-lactam. The lactamase enzyme breaks that ring open, deactivating the molecule's antibacterial properties.