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RAB23 belongs to the Rab family of proteins and is restricted to the cytoplasmic side of the cell membrane. RAB23 takes part in intracellular protein transportation and signal transduction facilitated by small GTPases. RAB23 is a vital negative regulator of the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. Alterations in the gene encoding RAB23 are the origin for Carpenter syndrome a disorder which can cause obesity, cardiac defects, polysyndactyly and craniosynostosis.

Tumor protein p53 responds to various cellular stresses by regulating target genes that induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence, DNA repair, or changes in metabolism. p53 is a tumor suppressor gene expressed in a wide variety of tissue types and is involved in regulating cell growth, replication, and apoptosis. p53 is a DNA-binding protein containing transcription activation, DNA-binding & oligomerization domains.
p53 binds to mdm2, SV40 T antigen and human papilloma virus E6 protein p53 senses DNA damage and possibly facilitating repair. p53 protein is a transcription factor which is encoded in humans by the TP53 gene. Alterations of TP53 occur not only as somatic mutations in human malignancies, but also as germline mutations in some cancer-prone families with Li-Fraumeni syndrome. p53 mutants that often occur in many different human cancers fail to bind the consensus DNA binding site, and hence cause the loss of tumor suppressor activity. Mutation involving p53 is found in a wide variety of malignant tumors, including breast, ovarian, bladder, colon, lung, and melanoma. The p53 expression in normal cells is low and in an assortment of transformed cell lines is high, which may contribute to transformation and malignancy. Multiple p53 variants encode distinct isoforms, which can regulate p53 transcriptional activity. p53’s significance in multicellular organisms is in cell cycle regulation therefore it functions as a tumor suppressor that is involved in preventing cancer. p53’s role in conserving stability by preventing genome mutation has earned it descriptions such as "the guardian of the genome," "the guardian angel gene," and the "master watchman.” The name p53 refers to its evident molecular mass: it migrates as a 53kDa protein on SDS-PAGE. However, based on calculations from its amino acid residues, p53's mass is in fact only 43.7kDa. This difference is attributed to the high number of proline residues in the protein which slow its migration on SDS-PAGE, consequently making it appear larger than it actually is.

RRAS belongs to the Ras family which functions in signal transduction pathways. RRAS interacts with RASSF5, NCK1, Bcl-2, ARAF and RALGDS. RRAS binds GTP and GDP, and it has intrinsic GTPase activity. RRAS regulates the organization of the actin cytoskeleton

OCIA domain-containing protein 2 (OCIAD2) is a protein-coding gene which localizes to endosomes and contains one Ovarian carcinoma immunoreactive antigen (OCIA) domain. Among the associated diseases with OCIAD2 are bronchiolo-alveolar adenocarcinoma, and ovarian mucinous neoplasm. OCIAD1 is an important paralog of this gene.

Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase MER is a protein, this enzyme is coded from the MERTK gene. This gene is a part of the TYRO3/AXL/MER receptor kinase group and encodes a transmembrane protein with two fibronectin type-III domains, two Ig-like C2-type (immunoglobulin-like) sites, and one tyrosine kinase site. Mutations in this gene have been correlated with interruption of the retinal pigment epithelium phagocytosis process and commencement of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa.

Dickkopf-related protein 3 (DKK3) belongs to the DKK protein family including Dkk-1, 2, 3 and -4. DKK3 is a 350 amino acid secreted glycoprotein which is comprised of an N-terminal signal peptide and 2 conserved cysteine-rich domains that are separated by a 12 amino acid linker region. DKK3 is involved in embryonic development through its inhibition of the WNT signaling pathway. DKK3 gene expression is decreased in a variety of cancer cell lines and it may act as a tumor suppressor gene.

Peptidylprolyl Isomerase C (PPIC) belongs to the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family. PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and hasten the folding of proteins. Like other PPIases, PPIC binds immunosuppressant cyclosporin A.

RAB14 belongs to the RAB protein family, low molecular mass monomeric GTPases which is found on the cytoplasmic surfaces of distinct membrane bound organelles. RAB14 has a role in vesicular trafficking and neurotransmitter release throughout the body and is expressed at high levels in brain, lung, kidney, spleen and thymus. In addition, RAB14 takes part in the biosynthetic/recycling pathway between the Golgi and endosomal compartments.

RAB1A belongs to the ras-related superfamily. Rab proteins have a central part in either in endocytosis or in biosynthetic protein transport. Rab1a protein controls vesicle traffic from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus.

RAB8, Member RAS Oncogene Family (RAB8B), is a low molecular mass monomeric GTPases which localize on the cytoplasmic surfaces of distinct membrane-bound organelles. RAB8 takes part in polarized vesicular trafficking and neurotransmitter release and also in cell junction dynamics in Sertoli cells. RAB proteins function in intracellular vesicle transport by aiding in the docking or fusion of vesicles with their target membranes.

V-Ets Avian Erythroblastosis Virus E26 Oncogene 2 (ETS2) is a transcription factor that regulates genes involved in development and apoptosis. ETS2 is also a protooncogene which takes part in regulation of telomerase. ETS2 protein’s pseudogene is located on the X chromosome.

The Melanoma Inhibitory protein (MIA) was identified as an inhibitor of in vitro growth of malignant melanoma cells. The protein contains a SH3 domain.
MIA acts as a potent tumor cell growth inhibitor for malignant melanoma cells and some other neuroectodermal tumors, including gliomas, in an autocrine fashion. In a study of human melanoma cell lines with different metastatic capacity MIA mRNA expression appeared to be inversely correlated with pigmentation. MIA has been shown to represent a very sensitive and specific serum marker for systemic malignant melanoma that might be useful for staging of primary melanomas, detection of progression from localized to metastatic disease during follow-up, and monitoring therapy of advanced melanomas.

MIA2 performs as a tumour suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma. MIA2is a novel acute phase protein which its expression is found in the liver and reacts to liver damage in chronic liver diseases and is considerably higher in severe fibrosis patients . MIA2 is induced by IL6, TGF-B & and conditioned medium from activated hepatic stellate cells. MIA2 is is mainly expressed in hepatocytes.

BLOC1S2 is a member of the BLOC1S2 family. Biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1 or BLOC-1 is a universally expressed multisubunit protein complex which is essential for regular biogenesis of specialized organelles of the endosomal-lysosomal system, like melanosomes and platelet dense granules. BLOC1S2 takes part in cell proliferation.

RAB7A belongs to the Ras superfamily of small Rab GTPases. RAB7A connects with the RIPL effector protein to regulator membrane trafficking from early to late endosome and to lysosomes. RAB7A can also regulate growth receptor endocytic trafficking, degradation, maturation of phagosome and autophagic vacuoles.

IFN-gamma produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens or mitogens.
IFN-gamma, in addition to 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.

Oncomodulin is a member of the superfamily of calmodulin proteins, otherwise known as the EF-hand proteins. It is a high-affinity calcium ion-binding protein. Oncomodulin is an oncodevelopmental protein which is found in early embryonic cells in the placenta and also in tumors.

OTOR proteins is also known as fibrocyte-derived protein (Fdp) and Melanoma inhibitory activity-like (MIAL). Otoraplin is a member of the melanoma-inhibiting activity gene family. Otoraplin is a secreted 16 kDa globular protein that is expressed in the inner ear by periotic mesenchyme and developing and mature fibrocytes. OTOR is highly homologous to MIA/cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein (CD-RAP), which is a cartilage-specific protein that is also expressed in malignant melanoma cells. The 111 amino acid mature human otoraplin contains 1 SH3 domain (46 – 107 amino acids) and a Tyr at position 50 that is reportedly sulfated. Otoraplin takes pasrt in the initiation of periotic mesenchyme chondrogenesis.
Otoraplin is secreted through the Golgi apparatus and plays a role in cartilage development and maintenance. A frequent polymorphism in the translation start codon of OTOR can abolish translation and may be associated with forms of deafness.

Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins (MIP) belong to the family of chemotactic cytokines known as chemokines. In humans, there are two major forms, MIP-1a and MIP-1b that are now officially named CCL3 and CCL4 respectively. Both are major factors produced by macrophages after they are stimulated with bacterial endotoxins. They activate human granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils) which can lead to acute neutrophilic inflammation. They also induce the synthesis and release of other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6 and TNF-a from fibroblasts and macrophages. The genes for CCL3 and CCL4 are both located on human chromosome 17.

GREM1 belongs to the BMP (bone morphogenic protein) antagonist family. Like BMPs, BMP antagonists comprise cystine knots and usually form homo- and heterodimers. The CAN (cerberus and dan) subfamily of BMP antagonists, to which GREM1 belongs, is characterized by a C-terminal cystine knot with an eight-membered ring. The antagonistic effect of the secreted glycosylated protein is because of its direct binding to BMP proteins. As an antagonist of BMP, GREM1 takes a place in regulating organogenesis, body patterning, and tissue differentiation. In mouse, GREM1 has been shown to convey the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signal from the polarizing region to the apical ectodermal ridge during limb bud outgrowth. Alternatively merged transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice with experimentally induced allergic pulmonary inflammation contains a novel 9.4 kDa cysteine-rich secreted protein, RELM-alpha (FIZZ1, found in inflammatory zone). RELM-alpha is a secreted protein that has a restricted tissue distribution with highest levels in adipose tissue stroma. Murine RELM-alpha (FIZZ1) is the founding member of a new gene family including two other murine genes expressed, respectively, in intestinal crypt epithelium (RELM-beta) and white adipose tissue (Resistin), and two related human genes.
RELMalpha inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes but has no effect on proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. RELMalpha is able to form heterooligomers with resistin but not RELMbeta. Since RELMalpha is expressed by adipose tissue and it is a secreted factor, our findings suggest that RELMalpha may be involved in the control of the adipogenesis as well as in the process of muscle differentiation.
In the lung, RELM-alpha is induced by hypoxia and was renamed as hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF). HIMF strongly activated Akt phosphorylation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 (10 micromol/L) inhibited HIMF-activated Akt phosphorylation. It also inhibited HIMF stimulated RPSM proliferation. Thus, the PI3K/Akt pathway, at least in part, mediates the proliferative effect of HIMF. Further studies showed that HIMF had angiogenic and vasoconstrictive properties. HIMF increased pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance. Further studies suggest that HIMF regulates apoptosis and may participate in lung alveolarization and maturation.

LIN28 plays an important role as a 'translational enhancer', leading specific mRNAs to polysomes and therefore increasing the competence of protein synthesis. LIN28 is a marker of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells and it enhances the efficiency of the formation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from human fibroblasts. LIN28 binds to the let-7 pre-miRNA and blocks production of the mature let-7 microRNA in mouse embryonic stem cells. Overexpression of LIN28 is associated with human germ-cell tumors.

Inhibitor of Growth Family, Member 2 (ING2) belongs to the inhibitor of growth (ING) family. ING family members associate with and modulate the activity of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes and serve in DNA repair and apoptosis. ING2 appears to be involved in p53/TP53 activation and p53/TP53-dependent apoptotic pathways, most likely by enhancing acetylation of p53/TP53. ING2 is a component of an mSin3A-like corepressor complex, which is probably involved in deacetylation of nucleosomal histones. ING2 activity is modulated by binding to phosphoinositides (PtdInsPs).