Search results

Ephrin type-B receptor 4 isoform b (Ephb4) belongs to the Eph receptor tyrosine kinase family which functions in neuronal guidance and mediate venal/arterial separation. EPHB4-mediated forward signaling regulates cellular repulsion and segregation form EFNB2-expressing cells. Furthermore, Ephb4 has a role in postnatal blood vessel remodeling, morphogenesis and permeability and is therefore essential in the context of tumor angiogenesis.

S100A8 is a part of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 proteins are localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a broad range of cells, and participate in the regulation of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100A8 plays a role in the inhibition of casein kinase and as a cytokine. S100A8 altered expression is related with cystic fibrosis disease. S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein that has antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi.S100A8 is crucial for resistance towards invasion by pathogenic bacteria. S100A8 up-regulates transcription of genes that are under the control of NF-kappa-B. S100A8 plays a role in the development of endotoxic shock in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. S100A8 endorses tubulin polymerization and promotes phagocyte migration and infiltration of granulocytes at sites of wounding. S100A8 takes part as a pro-inflammatory mediator in acute and chronic inflammation and up-regulates the release of IL8 and cell-surface expression of ICAM1.

Complement Factor D (Adipsin), which belongs to the trypsin family of peptidases, is involved in the alternative complement pathway of the complement system where it cleaves factor B. In the alternative complement pathway, Adipsin is best known for its role in humoral suppression of infectious agents. In addition, Adipsin is a serine protease which is secreted by adipocytes into the bloodstream. Ultimately, Adipsin has a high level of expression in fat, proposing a role for adipose tissue in immune system biology.

Dendritic cell and monocyte chemokinelike protein (DMC/CXCL17/VEGF-correlated chemokine 1/VCC1), is a secreted molecule with a size and predicted 3-dimensional folding pattern similar to that of chemokines CXCL8/IL8 and CXCL14/BRAK. CXCL17 is constitutively generated by airway and intestinal epithelium. CXCL17 induces the chemotaxis of quiescent, but not LPS-activated peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cells, and it also binds these cells specifically. The expression of CXCL17 is increased in endothelial cells when they are induced to form tubes in vitro. CXCL17, CXCL1/GRO and CXCL8/IL8 which have roles in angiogenesis, show significantly correlated expression with that of VEGF in primary lung, breast and esophageal tumors. Therefore, CXCL17 is suggested to have a role in tumor angiogenesis. The mature Rat CXCL17 shares 82%, 71% amino acid sequence identity with mouse, human CXCL17, respectively.

Dysbindin domain-containing protein 1 (DBNDD1) is a member of the dysbindin family.

SEPT5 is a member of the septin gene family of nucleotide binding proteins which were initially defined in yeast as cell division cycle regulatory proteins. Septins are extremely conserved in yeast, Drosophila, and mouse and seem to regulate cytoskeletal organization. Interference of septin function disrupts cytokinesis and results in high multinucleate or polyploid cells.

ANGPT1 is an angiogenic factor which intervenes in blood vessel maturation and takes part in endothelial development. ANGPT1 is a secreted ligand for Tie-2, a cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in endothelial and hemopoietic cells. The glycosylated ANGPT1 protein has a coiled-coil region in the amino terminus and a fibrinogen-like domain at the carboxy terminus.

Dynein Axonemal Light Chain 1 (DNAL1) functions as a component of the outer dynein arms complex. DNAL1 acts as the molecular motor which supplies the force to move cilia in an ATP-dependent manner. DNAL1 is expressed in tissues with motile cilia or flagella and takes part in the movement of sperm flagella. Alternate splicing results in numerous transcript variants.

DR1 is a phosphoprotein that inhibits both basal and activated levels of transcription. DR1 is phosphorylated in vivo which affects its interaction with TBP. DR1 has a histone fold motif at the amino terminus, a TBP-binding domain, and a glutamine- and alanine-rich region. By selectively repressing polymerases II and III, DR1 alters the physiological balance of transcriptional output in favor of polymerase I.

Interferon Alpha and Beta Receptor Subunit 2 or IFNAR2 is a protein, part of the class II cytokine receptor family. When different innate immune signaling transduction are activated, there is a rapid induction of type I IFNs because it has an intronless gene source. IFNAR2 is the main ligand and binds to the receptor. Once bind, stabilization occurs and a signaling compelx recptor is formed. IFNAR2 also takes part in the activation process of STAT proteins.

SNUPN is a nuclear import adaptor protein which is part of the Snurportin family.
SNUPN is Localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus and contains an N-terminal IBB domain and a trimethylguanosine (m3G)-cap binding domain. SNUPN binds specifically the terminal 2,2,7-m3G-cap at the 5'' end of U snRNPs and is involved in transport of U snRNPs into the nucleus through an association with Importin β.

IFN-gamma produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens / mitogens.
IFN-gamma, on top of having antiviral activity, has important immunoregulatory functions, it is a potent activator of macrophages, and has antiproliferative effects on transformed cells and it can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I interferons.

Neurotensin (NTS) is a common precursor for 2 peptides, neuromedin N and neurotensin. Neurotensin is a secreted tridecapeptide, which is generally distributed throughout the central nervous system, and may serve as a neurotransmitter or a neuromodulator. NTS is involved in the maintenance of gut structure and function, and in the regulation of fat metabolism. Tissue-specific processing may initiate the formation in some tissues of larger forms of neuromedin N and neurotensin. The large forms may embody more stable peptides which are also biologically active.

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.

There are four mitochondrial proteins composing the enzyme system for cleavage of glycine (glycine cleavage system): P protein, H protein, T protein, and L protein. GCSH is the H protein. GCSH transfers the methylamine group of glycine from the P protein to the T protein. Mutations in this gene results in nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH).

The galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins implicated in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Galectin-1 is an autocrine negative growth factor that regulates cell proliferation. Galectin-1 regulates cell apoptosis and cell differentiation. Galectin-1 binds CD45, CD3 and CD4 & inhibits CD45 protein phosphatase activity and therefore the dephosphorylation of lyn kinase. Galectin-1 and its ligands are one of the master regulators of immune responses as T-cell homeostasis and survival, T-cell immune disorders, inflammation and allergies as well as host–pathogen interactions. Galectin-1 expression or overexpression in tumors and/or the tissue surrounding them must be considered as a sign of the malignant tumor progression that is often related to the long-range dissemination of tumoral cells (metastasis), to their dissemination into the surrounding normal tissue, and to tumor immune-escape. Galectin-1 in its oxidized form plays a number of important roles in the regeneration of the central nervous system after injury. The targeted overexpression (or delivery) of Galectin-1 should be considered as a method of choice for the treatment of some kinds of inflammation-related diseases, neurodegenerative pathologies and muscular dystrophies. In contrast, the targeted inhibition of Galectin-1 expression is what should be developed for therapeutic applications against cancer progression. Galectin-1 is thus a promising molecular target for the development of new and original therapeutic tools. There is 88% homology between the human and mouse galectin-1.

Cofilin is a family of actin-binding proteins which disassembles actin filaments. It is a widely distributed intracellular actin-modulating protein that binds and depolymerizes filamentous F-actin and inhibits the polymerization of monomeric G-actin in a pH-dependent manner. It is involved in the translocation of actin-cofilin complex from cytoplasm to nucleus.

GNB3 belongs to the WD repeat G protein beta family. GNB3 is an important regulator of alpha subunit, as well as of certain signal transduction receptor and effector. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (C825T) in GNB3 is linked with essential hypertension and obesity. In addition, this polymorphism is also linked with the occurrence of the splice variant GNB3-s, which seems to have increased activity. GNB3-s is an example of alternative splicing caused by a nucleotide change outside of the splice donor and acceptor sites. Further splice variants may exist for GNB3, however they have not been fully described. Among the diseases associated with GNB3 are syncope, and aortic coarctation.

Glycoprotein-9 (GP9) is a small membrane glycoprotein found on the surface of human platelets. GP9 forms a one to one noncovalent complex with glycoprotein Ib, a platelet surface membrane glycoprotein complex which functions as a receptor for von Willebrand factor. The complete receptor complex includes noncovalent association of the alpha and beta subunits with the protein and platelet glycoprotein V. GP9 gene defects cause the Bernard-Soulier syndrome, aka giant platelet disease whose patients have unusually large platelets and have a clinical bleeding tendency.

VAMP5 is part of the vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)/synaptobrevin family and the SNARE superfamily. VAMP5 is involved is vesicle trafficking events that are associated with myogenesis.

Calponin 2 also known as CNN2 protein is capable of binding actin, calmodulin, troponin C, and tropomyosin, and also function in the structural organization of actin filaments. Furthermore, the interaction of CNN2 with actin inhibits the actomyosin Mg-ATPase activity. CNN2 takes part in smooth muscle contraction and cell adhesion. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.

Cytokeratin 8 (KRT8) belongs to the type II keratin family clustered on the long arm of chromosome 12. Type I and type II keratins heteropolymerize to form intermediate-sized filaments in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. KRT8 typically dimerizes with keratin 18 to form an intermediate filament in simple single-layered epithelial cells. KRT8 has a role in retaining cellular structural integrity and also functions in signal transduction and cellular differentiation. KRT8 gene mutations cause cryptogenic cirrhosis.

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.

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.
Mouse resistin, specifically produced and secreted by adipocyte, acts on skeletal muscle myocytes, hepatocytes and adipocytes themselves so that it reduces their sensitivity. Steppan et al. have suggested that resistin suppresses the ability 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.