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Candida albicans is a diploid fungus, which grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a contributory agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans, and candidal onychomycosis (an infection of the nail plate). Systemic fungal infections (fungemias) including those by C. albicans are regarded as key causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients (e.g., AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplantation). C. albicans biofilms may develop on the surface of implantable medical devices. C. albicans is commensal and a constituent of the normal gut flora containing microorganisms which live in the human mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Overgrowth of the fungus leads to in candidiasis (candidosis). Candidiasis is frequently detected in immunocompromised persons, including HIV-infected patients. To infect host tissue, the habitual unicellular yeast-like form of C. albicans reacts to environmental signals and changes into an invasive, multicellular filamentous form, a phenomenon which is known as dimorphism.

Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of zinc and calcium-dependent endopeptidases that break down extracellular matrix proteins. The MMP9 is secreted as a 92kDa zymogen. Cleavage of ProMMP-9 results in the active enzyme, having a molecular weight of approximately 82kDa. MMP9 is composed of the following domains: a gelatin-binding domain consisting of three fibronectin type II units, a catalytic domain containing the zinc-binding site, a proline-rich type V collagen-homologous domain and a hemopexin-like domain. MMP9 is produced by the several cell types: monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, osteoclasts and endothelial cells. MMP9 is involved in inflammatory responses, tissue remodeling, wound healing, tumor growth and metastasis. MMP9 may also play an important part in local proteolysis of the extracellular matrix and in leukocyte migration, as well as in bone osteoclastic resorption. MMP9 cleaves type IV and type V collagens into large C-terminal three qu

ACADM enzyme is essential for the degradation a certain group of fats called medium-chain fatty acids. ACADM is essential for converting specific fatty acids to energy, mainly during fasting periods. ACADM functions in mitochondria, the energy-producing centers within cells. ACADM is localized in the mitochondria of numerous tissue types, predominantly the liver.

DECR1 is a mitochondrial protein which exists as a homotetramer and is a member of a family of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases. DECR1 acts as an auxiliary enzyme of beta-oxidation andt partakes in the metabolism of unsaturated fatty enoyl-CoA esters. in particular, DECR1 uses NADP+ to catalyze the reduction of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA to yield trans-3-enoyl-CoA that can subsequently be used as an intermediate in the Krebs cycle. Furthermore, DECR1 is believed to work as a tumor suppressor, possibly downregulating the expression of Neu and slowing the rate of tumorigenesis.

Procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer 1, also known as PCOLCE binds to the C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen and enhances procollagen C-proteinase activity. In addition, C-terminal processed part of PCPE (CT-PCPE) has a metalloproteinase inhibitory activity. Among the diseases which are associated with PCOLCE: bone fracture & oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (ACAT1) is an enzyme member of the membrane-bound acyltransferase family and Sterol o-acyltransferase subfamily. The ACAT1 enzyme catalyzes the reversible formation of acetoacetyl-CoA from 2 molecules of acetyl-CoA. ACAT1 plays a part in lipoprotein compilation and dietary cholesterol absorption. Added to its acyltransferase activity, ACAT1 acts as a ligase.

MECR catalyzes the reduction of trans-2-enoyl-CoA to acyl-CoA with chain length from C6 to C16 in an NADPH dependent manner with preference to medium chain length substrate. MECR protein takes part in the mitochondrial synthesis of fatty acids.

ACAT2 enzyme participates in lipid metabolism. ACAT2 takes part in lipoprotein assembly, catalyzing cholesterol esterification in mammalian cells. ACAT2 is an integral membrane protein that localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum of human intestinal cells. ACAT2 deficiency contributes to severe mental retardation and hypotonus.

DCXR catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of numerous pentoses, tetroses, trioses, alpha-dicarbonyl molecules and L-xylulose. DCXR takes part in the uronate cycle of glucose metabolism. DCXR participates in the water absorption and cellular osmoregulation in the proximal renal tubules by producing xylitol, an osmolyte, thus preventing osmolytic stress from occurring in the renal tubules.

Aldolase C Fructose-Bisphosphate (ALDOC) belongs to the class I fructose-bisphosphate aldolase family. ALDOC is a glycolytic enzyme which catalyzes the reversible aldol cleavage of fructose-1,6-biphosphate and fructose 1-phosphate to dihydroxyacetone phosphate and either glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate or glyceraldehydes respectively. ALDOC is expressed exclusively in the hippocampus and Purkinje cells of the brain.

NAGAT (ABO) is a member of the glycosyltransferase 6 family. The ABO protein is the basis of the ABO blood group system and related to the first discovered blood group system, ABO. The allele that is present in an individual determines the blood group. The histo-blood group ABO is comprised of 3 carbohydrate antigens: A, B, and H. A, B, and AB individuals express a glycosyltransferase activity which converts the H antigen to the A antigen (by addition of UDP-GalNAc) or to the B antigen (by addition of UDP-Gal), whereas O individuals are deficient of such activity.

ACADS is a tetrameric mitochondrial flavoprotein, which is part of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family. ACADS catalyzes the first step of the mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway. Mutations in ACADS have been associated with Short Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency.

AKR7A3, takes part in the detoxification of aldehydes and ketones. AKR7A3 reduces the dialdehyde protein-binding form of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to the non-binding AFB1 dialcohol. AKR7A3 participates in protection of liver against the toxic and carcinogenic effects of AFB1, a potent hepatocarcinogen.

Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, thus committing glucose to the glycolytic pathway. HK3 encodes hexokinase 3. Similar to hexokinases 1 and 2, this allosteric enzyme is inhibited by its product glucose-6-phosphate. Hexokinase3 lacks the hydrophobic N-terminal sequence critical for targeting to mitochondria. Hexpkinase3 may have anabolic functions, providing H6P for glycogen or lipid synthesis.

ACAA1 is part of the thiolase family of enzymes and is takes part in lipid metabolism. ACAA1 enzyme is localized to the peroxisome and catalyzes the conversion of acyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA to 3-oxoacyl-CoA in the fatty acid oxidation pathway. ACAA1 shows high enzymatic activity in liver, kidney, intestine and white adipose tissue in rats. ACAA1 deficiency causes pseudo-Zellweger syndrome.

Arylsulfatase A (ARSA) hydrolyzes cerebrosidesulfate to cerebroside and sulfate. ARSA is inhibited by phosphate. The phosphate develops a covalent bond with the active site 3-oxoalanine. ARSA gene defects cause metachromatic leucodystrophy (MLD), a progressive demyelination disease which results in various neurological symptoms and ultimately death.

Fucosidase Alpha-L- 2 Plasma (FUCA2) is a plasma alpha-L-fucosidase, which represents 10-20% of the total cellular fucosidase activity. FUCA2 protein belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 29 family, and catalyzes the hydrolysis of the alpha-1,6-linked fucose fused to the reducing-end N-acetylglucosamine of the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins. FUCA2 is crucial for Helicobacter pylori adhesion to human gastric cancer cells.

D-lactate dehydrogenase (ldha) is a member of the D-isomer specific 2-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase family. In enzymology, an ldha (cytochrome) is an enzyme which catalyzes the chemical reaction. Therefore, the 2 substrates of the ldha enzyme are (D)-lactate and ferricytochrome c, whereas its 2 products are pyruvate and ferrocytochrome c.

GlpK also known as glycerol kinase, is a member of the FGGY kinase family. GlpK catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to glycerol, thereby forming glycerol phosphate. Furthermore, this intermediate can then be converted to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), which is utilized in either glycolysis or gluconeogenesis. The activity of GlpK is affected by numerous metabolites. The non-competitive allosteric inhibition by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) triggers modifications in the quaternary structure of Glpk.

Uroporphyrinogen III synthase (UROS) is an enzyme involved in the 4th step of porphyrin metabolism and in the conversion of hydroxymethyl bilane into uroporphyrinogen III. Defects in the UROS protein can cause molecular lesions which lead to the autosomal recessive Gunther disease, otherwise known as congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP).

Methionine aminopeptidases and designated peptidase M proteins belong to the M24 family of proteins. MAP protein removes the amino-terminal methionine residue from nascent polypeptides. The active site of MAP contains 2 adjacent divalent metal ions connected by a water molecule or hydroxide ion.

NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur protein 3 (NDUFS3) is a member of the complex I 30 kDa subunit family. NDUFS3 is one of the iron-sulfur protein (IP) components of mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). This complex is the first enzyme complex in the electron transport chain of mitochondria. The iron-sulfur protein (IP) fraction of complex I consists of seven subunits. NDUFS3 gene mutations are linked with Leigh syndrome resulting from mitochondrial complex indefficiency.

Deoxyribodipyrimidine photo-lyase (phrB) is a member of the DNA photolyase class-1 family. phrB takes part in repair of UV radiation-inducedDNA damage. phrB catalyzes the light-dependent monomerization (300-600 nm) of cyclobutyl pyrimidinedimers (in cis-syn configuration), which are formed between closest bases on the same DNA strand uponexposure to ultraviolet radiation.