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DIRAS1 is a member of a distinct branch of the functionally diverse Ras superfamily of monomeric GTPases. DIRAS1 demonstrates low GTPase activity and exists mainly in the GTP-bound form. Ras proteins operate as binary molecular switches that control intracellular signaling networks. Ras-regulated signal pathways regulate such processes as actin cytoskeletal integrity, proliferation, differentiation, cell adhesion, apoptosis, and cell migration. Ras and ras-related proteins are frequently deregulated in cancers, leading to increased invasion and metastasis, and decreased apoptosis.

IL-16 is a pleiotropic cytokine that functions as a chemoattractant, a modulator of T cell activation, and an inhibitor of HIV replication. The signaling process of IL-16 is mediated by CD4. The product of this gene undergoes proteolytic processing, which is found to yield two functional proteins. IL-16 functions exclusively attributed to the secreted C-terminal peptide, while the N-terminal product may play a role in cell cycle control. Caspase 3 is reported to be involved in the proteolytic processing of this protein. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.
IL-16 stimulates a migratory response in cd4+ lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. Also induces t-lymphocyte expression of interleukin 2 receptor, ligand for cd4.

BIRC7 is a part of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family and contains a single copy of a baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) as well as a RING-type zinc finger domain. The BIR domain is necessary for inhibitory activity & cooperates with caspases, while the RING finger domain sometimes increases anti-apoptotic activity but doesn’t inhibit apoptosis by itself. 2 transcript variants encoding diverse isoforms have been found for this gene. The 2 isoforms have dissimilar antiapoptotic characteristics, with isoform a protecting cells from apoptosis induced by staurosporine and isoform b defending cells from apoptosis induced by etoposide.
BIRC7 has direct contact with several caspases together with caspase-3, caspase-7, & caspase –9. BIRC7 inhibits the activation of caspase-9 induced by Apaf-1, cytochrome c, and dATP.

Alpha-cardiac actin belongs to the actin family which is comprised of three main groups of actin isoforms, alpha, beta, and gamma. The alpha actins are found in muscle tissues and are a major constituent of the contractile apparatus. Defects in the cardiac actin have been associated with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC).

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as 10 kDa interferon-gamma-induced protein (?-IP10 or IP-10). CXCL10 is secreted by several cell types in response to IFN-?. These cell types include monocytes, endothelial cellsand fibroblasts. CXCL10 has been attributed to several roles, such as chemoattraction for monocytesand T cells, promotion of T cell adhesion to endothelial cells, anti tumor activity, and inhibition of bone marrow colony formation and angiogenesis. The gene for CXCL10 is located on human chromosome 4in a cluster among several other CXC chemokines. This chemokine elicits its effects by binding to the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR3. The three-dimensional crystal structure of this chemokine has been determined under 3 different conditions to a resolution of up to 1.92A.

Kell blood group glycoprotein homolog or KEL, is an enzyme, part of the zinc endopeptidase of the neprilysin (NEP) group of proteins. KEL has a crucial part in the production of the potent bioactive ET-3, which also includes enzymes that are endothelin convertingenzymes (PEX, XCE, DINE &various NEP-like proteins). KEL uses a single disulfide bond to XK, a gated membranal transporter. The Kell antigen system that includes two proteins, is very crucial among blood group systems.

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.

Galectins are a family of soluble b-galactoside-binding animal lectins that modulate cell-to-cell adhesion and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions. Galectins also take part in tumor progression, pre-mRNA splicing and apoptosis. Galectin-related protein (LGALSL) is a 172 amino acid protein which holds one galectin domain. In spite of this, LGALSL does not appear to bind carbohydrates or lactose since the critical residues required for binding are not conserved.

Cell Growth Regulator with EF-Hand Domain 1, also known as CGREF1 is a secreted calcium ion binding protein. CGREF1 includes two EF-hand domains & both EF-hands are essential for function. CGREF1 is most likely digested extracellularly by an unfamiliar serine protease generating extremely hydrophobic bioactive peptides. CGREF1 mediates cell-cell adhesion in a calcium-dependent manner. In addition, CGREF1 is capable to inhibit growth in more than a few cell lines.

Haptoglogin participates in intestinal permeability, permitting intercellular tight junction disassembly, and controlling the equilibrium among tolerance and immunity to non-self antigens. Haptoglobin has antibacterial activity and takes part in modulating many aspects of the acute phase response. Haptoglobin is processed to yield both alpha and beta chains, which later unite as a tetramer to produce haptoglobin. Haptoglobin binds free hemoglobin (Hb) secreted from erythrocytes In blood plasma with high affinity and thus inhibits its oxidative activity. Further, the haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex is being removed by the reticuloendothelial system.

KLRB1 has an inhibitory role on natural killer (NK) cells cytotoxicity which are lymphocytes who facilitate cytotoxicity and secrete cytokines subsequent to immune stimulation. Some genes of the C-type lectin superfamily, like the rodent NKRP1 family of glycoproteins, are expressed by NK cells and take part in NK cell function regulation. KLRB1 holds an extracellular domain with a few characteristic motifs of C-type lectins, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain. Due to its external C terminus KLRB1 is considered to be a type II membrane protein.

C-JUN is a gene which, in combination with c-Fos, forms the AP-1early response transcription factor. C-JUN is activated by the JNKpathway. C-JUN is the putative transforming gene of avian sarcoma virus 17. C-JUN is a protein which is highly similar to the viral protein, and which interacts directly with specific target DNA sequences to regulate gene expression. The C-JUN gene is intronless and is mapped to 1p32-p31, a chromosomal region involved in both translocations and deletions in human malignancies.

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 modules: Module I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (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 heparin-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.

Activins are homodimers or heterodimers of the different β subunit isoforms, part of the TGFβ family. Mature Activin A has two 116 amino acids residues βA subunits (βA-βA). Activin displays an extensive variety of biological activities, including mesoderm induction, neural cell differentiation, bone remodelling, haematopoiesis, and reproductive physiology. Activins takes part in the production and regulation of hormones such as FSH, LH, GnRH and ACTH. Cells that are identified to express Activin A include fibroblasts, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, keratinocytes, osteoclasts, bone marrow monocytes, prostatic epithelium, neurons, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and ovarian granulosa cells.

Otubain 1 (OTUB1) belongs to the ovarian tumor (OUT) superfamily of predicted cysteine proteases and inhibits cytokine gene transcription in the immune system through its interaction with a ubiquitin protease and E3 ubiquitin ligase. OTUB1 is a highly specific ubiquitin iso-peptidase, it cleaves ubiquitin from branched poly-ubiquitin chains but not from ubiquitinated substrates. OTUB1 is believed to work in specific ubiquitin-dependent pathways, possibly by providing an editing function of polyubiquitin chain growth. OTUB1 is a hydrolase that removes conjugated ubiquitin from proteins in vitro and may therefore have a significant regulatory role in the level of protein turnover by preventing degradation. Additionally, OTUB1 is a regulator of T-cell anergy, a phenomenon that occurs when T-cells are rendered impassive to antigen re-challenge and no longer respond to their cognate antigen. OTUB1 acts via its interaction with RNF128/GRAIL, which is an essential inductor of CD4 T-cell anergy.

Chondrosarcoma Associated Gene 1 (CSAG1) belongs to a family of tumor antigens. The CSAG1 protein is expressed in chondrosarcomas, but may also be expressed in normal tissues such as testis.

Leukocyte Cell Derived Chemotaxin 1 (214-333 a.a.), also known as LECT1, is a glycosylated transmembrane protein which is cleaved to form a mature, secreted protein. The mature protein encourages chondrocyte growth and inhibits angiogenesis. The mature protein takes part in endochondral bone development by permitting cartilaginous anlagen to be vascularized and replaced by bone. LECT1 is expressed in the avascular area of prehypertrophic cartilage and its expression reduces during vascular invasion and chondrocyte hypertrophy.

Ring Finger & CHY Zinc Finger Domain Containing 1 (RCHY1) acts as an ubiquitin ligase. RCHY1 mediates E3-dependent ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of target proteins which among them are TP53, HDAC1 and CDKN1B, consequently regulating their levels and cell cycle progression. RCHY1 is also increases AR transcription factor activity.

The 14-3-3 family of proteins plays a key regulatory role in signal transduction, checkpoint control, apoptotic and nutrient-sensing pathways. 14-3-3 proteins are highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed. There are at least seven isoforms, β, γ, ε, σ, ζ, τ and η that have been identified in mammals. The 14-3-3 epsilon, a subtype of the 14-3-3 family of proteins, was thought to be brain and neuron-specific. It has been shown to interact with CDC25 phosphatases, RAF1 and IRS1 proteins, suggesting its role in diverse biochemical activities related to signal transduction, such as cell division and regulation of sensitivity. It has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of small cell lung cancer.

Profilin1 (PFN1) is a ubiquitous actin monomer-binding protein which is a member of the profilin family. PFN1 significantly boosts skin wound healing in-vitro and in-vivo which may be mediated by purinergic receptors. PFN1 is also active in endothelial cell migration and vessel sprouting. PFN1 is thought to control actin polymerization in response to extracellular signals. PFN1 binds to actin and affects the formation of the cytoskeleton. In addition, PFN1 has an important role in the regulation of epithelial cell-cell adhesion. At high concentrations, profilin averts the polymerization of actin, while at low concentrations it enhances the polymerization. PFN1 gene deletion is linked to Miller-Dieker syndrome.

RPS27A is a small protein composed of 76 amino acids. RPS27A is found only in eukaryotic organisms among which shows strong sequence conservation. The RPS27A protein is present in all cell types, thus giving rise to its name.
RPS27A is found either in free form or conjugated to proteins through a covalent bond between the glycine at the C-terminal end and the side chains of lysine.
The connection of multiple copies of RPS27A targets the proteins for degradation by the 26S proteosome. RPS27A ligation is an ATP-dependent multi-step process. RPS27A is activated by the E1 enzyme. The attachment of RPS27A to the target protein is catalyzed by the E2 enzyme acting in concert with E3 which is involved in the recognition of the substrate protein.

sRAGE is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface molecules. sRAGE is a receptor for various molecules, including the amyloidogenic form of serum amyloid A, amyloid-beta protein, members of the S100/calgranulin superfamily and advanced glycation end products. sRAGE lies within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class III region on chromosome 6. Alternative splicing results in two transcript variants encoding different isoforms. sRAGE mediates interactions of nonenzymatic glycosylated proteins which accumulate in vascular tissue during aging & at an increasing rate in diabetes. sRAGE is a receptor for amyloid beta peptide.

Ebolavirus (EVD) belongs to the Filoviridae family of proteins which is comprised of a single-strand, non-infectious RNA genome. EVD genome is about 19,000 base pairs long and covers 7 genes in the order 3'-UTR-NP-VP35-VP40-GP-VP30-VP24-L-5'-UTR. There are 4 different ebolaviruses such as: Zaire (EBO-Z), Sudan (EBO-S), Cote d’Ivoire (EBO-CI) and Reston (EBO-R) that differ in amino acid sequence and location of where the gene overlaps. Similar to filoviruses and ebolavirions, EVD is a filamentous element that could appear in 3 forms: shepherd's crook, U shape or a 6 shape. Ebolaviruses may be coiled, toroid, or branched. Most ebolavirions are 80nm wideand 14,000nm long.

ANXA1 is part of the family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins which have a Mw between 35kDa-40kDa and are situated on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. ANXA1 protein has a Mw of 40kDa, with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity to bind from two to four calcium ions with high affinity. Since phospholipase A2 is necessary for the biosynthesis of the potent mediators of inflammation, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, ANXA1 might have potential anti-inflammatory activity. ANXA1 promotes membrane fusion and iplays a role in exocytosis. The recognition of ANXA1 protein by immunocytochemical leads a simple, highly sensitive and specific assay for diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia.