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Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins (MIP) belong to the family of chemotactic cytokines known as chemokines. In humans, there are two major forms, MIP-1? and MIP-1? 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-? from fibroblasts and macrophages. The genes for CCL3 and CCL4 are both located on human chromosome 17.

MOBKL1B is a member of the MOB1/phocein family. MOBKL1B stimulates the kinase activity of STK38 and STK38L. MOBKL1B also binds to and regulates downstream targets such as the NDR-family protein kinases and LATS1 kinase. Thus, MOBKL1B participates in cell cycle checkpoint control and tumor inhibition.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 9 (MAPK9) belongs to the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases function as an integration point for numerous biochemical signals, and are involved in a broad variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. MAPK9 targets specific transcription factors, and consequently mediates immediate-early gene expression in response to diverse cell stimuli. As an active dimer, MAPK9 can translocate to the nucleus and control transcription through its effects on c-Jun, ATF-2, and other transcription factors. MAPK9 blocks the ubiquitination of tumor suppressor p53, and so it increases the stability of p53 in nonstressed cells.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that is also known as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). It is found at the site of tooth eruption and bone degradation. In the bone, CCL2 is expressed by mature osteoclasts and osteoblasts and is under the control of nuclear factor ?B (NF?B). CCL2 recruits immune cells, such as monocytes, to sites of tissue injury and infection. This chemokine is produced as a protein precursor containing signal peptide of 23 amino acids and a mature peptide of 76 amino acids. It is a monomeric polypeptide, with a molecular weight of approximately 13kDa. As with many other CC chemokines, CCL2 is located on chromosome 17 in humans. The cell surface receptors that bind CCL2 are CCR2 and CCR5.

Phosphomannomutase 2 (PMM2) is a member of the eukaryotic PMM family. Phosphomannomutase 2 is involved in the synthesis of the GDP-mannose and dolichol-phosphate-mannose required for a number of critical mannosyl transfer reactions. PMM2 catalyzes the isomerization of mannose 6-phosphate to mannose 1-phosphate. PMM2 mutations are linked to congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG)-Ia, an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by central nervous system dysfunction and multiorgan failure.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) is also known as "extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2" (ERK2). Two similar (85% sequence identity) protein kinases were originally called ERK1 and ERK2. They were found during a search for protein kinases that are rapidly phosphorylated after activation of cell surface tyrosine kinasessuch as the epidermal growth factor receptor. Phosphorylation of ERKs leads to the activation of their kinase activity.
The molecular events linking cell surface receptors to activation of ERKs are complex. It was found that RasGTP-binding proteins are involved in the activation of ERKs. Another protein kinase, Raf-1, was shown to phosphorylate a "MAPK kinase", thus qualifying as a "MAPK kinase kinase". The MAPK kinase was named "MAPK/ERK kinase" (MEK).
Receptor-linked tyrosine kinases, Ras, Raf, MEK and MAPK could be fitted into a signaling cascade linking an extracellular signal to MAPK activation.
Transgenic gene knockoutmice lacking MAPK1 have major defects in early development.

MCM7 is a highly conserved mini-chromosome maintenance protein (MCM) vital for eukaryotic genome replication initiation. The MCM proteins form a hexameric protein complex which is a key component of the pre-replication complex (pre_RC) which takes part in replication forks formation and in DNA replication related proteins recruitment. The MCM complex is comprised of MCM2, 4, 6 and 7 proteins and possesses DNA helicase activity, such as DNA unwinding.

Acid phosphatase, prostate (ACPP) is a non-specific tyrosine phosphatase, which dephosphorylates a varied number of substrates under acidic conditions (pH 4-6) including alkyl, aryl, and acyl orthophosphate monoesters and phosphorylated proteins. ACPP has lipid phosphatase activity and inactivates lysophosphatidic acid in seminal plasma.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that is also known as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). It is found at the site of tooth eruption and bone degradation. In the bone, CCL2 is expressed by mature osteoclasts and osteoblasts and is under the control of nuclear factor ?B (NF?B). CCL2 recruits immune cells, such as monocytes, to sites of tissue injury and infection. This chemokine is produced as a protein precursor containing signal peptide of 23 amino acids and a mature peptide of 76 amino acids. It is a monomeric polypeptide, with a molecular weightof approximately 13kDa. As with many other CC chemokines, CCL2 is located on chromosome 17 in humans. The cell surface receptors that bind CCL2 are CCR2 and CCR5.

Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is a member of Fibrinogen protein family and contains 1 fibrinogen C-terminal domain. The MFAP4 protein has similarity to a bovine microfibril-associated protein. MFAP4 has binding specificities for both collagen and carbohydrate. MFAP4 is believed to be an extracellular matrix protein that is involved in cell adhesion or intercellular interactions. MFAP4 deletion was found in 30 of 31 Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) patients.

APIP catalyzes the dehydration of methylthioribulose-1-phosphate (MTRu-1-P) into 2,3-diketo-5-methylthiopentyl-1-phosphate (DK-MTP-1-P). APIP has an anti-apoptotic function and inhibits muscle ischemic impairment. APIP inhibits the cytochrome c-dependent and APAF1-mediated cell death.

MGLL is a membrane-associated member of the serine hydrolase superfamily. MGLL is expressed in abundance in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. MGLL functions jointly with hormone-sensitive lipase (LIPE) to hydrolyze intracellular triglyceride stores in adipocytes and other cells to fatty acids and glycerol. MGLL may also complement lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in completing hydrolysis of monoglycerides resulting from degradation of lipoprotein triglycerides.

A natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) NKp46 has been shown to represent a novel NK cell-specific molecule involved in human NK cell activation. The natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) are a recently characterized family of Ig-like activation receptors that appear to be major triggering receptors in tumor cell recognition. The three known NCRs include NKp46 and NKp30, which are expressed on circulating NKcells, and NKp44, which is expressed only on activating NK cells. NKp46 has been implicated in NK cell-mediated lysis of several autologous tumor cells, pathogen-infected cell lines and mononuclear phagocytes infected with an intracellular bacterium. The Lysis of tumor cells by NK-cells involves recognition by NKp46 of heparan sulfate moieties of membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Furthermore, NKp46 is a surface receptor involved in NK-cell cell death by apoptosis. NKp46 has two extracellular Ig-like domains followed by a ~40 residue stalk region, a type I transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic tail. The extracellular Ig-like domain of NKp46 (22-255aa) is purified by FPLC gel-filtration chromatography, after refolding of the isolated inclusion bodies in a redox buffer. In addition, engagement of the antigen with the monoclonal antibody stimulates intracellular calcium levels and the synthesis of cytokines. CD59 is an NKp46 coreceptor (by physical association) together they activate cytotoxicity of human NK-cells, their engagement results in tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3-zeta chains associated with NKp46. Reduced cell surface expression of NKp46 and other NK-cell receptors is linked to the impaired NK-cell cytolytic function in viremic HIV-1 infection.

PPME1 catalyzes the demethylation and inactivation of protein phosphatase (PP2A), a multimeric phosphoserine/ threonine protein phosphatase related to growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest. PPME1 can demethylate PP2A catalytic subunit in vitro and okadaic acid treatment can inhibit this reaction. It is conserved from yeast to human and holds a motif found in lipases having a catalytic triad activated serine as their active site nucleophile.

MICB (MHC class I chain-related gene B) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that functions as a ligand for human NKG2D type II receptor. A closely related protein, MICA, shares 85% amino acid identity with MICB. These 2 proteins are distantly related to the MHC class I proteins. MICA and MICB (MICA/B) possess three extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains, but have no capacity to bind peptide or interact with ?2-microglobulin. The genes encoding MICA/B are found within the major histocompatibility complex on human chromosome 6. The MICB locus is polymorphic with more than 15 recognized human alleles. MICA/B are minimally expressed on normal cells, but are frequently expressed on epithelial tumors and can be induced by bacterial and viral infections. MICA/B are ligands for NKG2D, an activating receptor expressed on NK cells, NKT cells, ?? T cells, and CD8+ ?? T cells. Recognition of MICA/B by NKG2D results in the activation of cytolytic activity and/or cytokine production by these effector cells. MICA/B recognition is involved in tumor surveillance, viral infections, and autoimmune diseases. The release of soluble forms of MICA/B from tumors down-regulates NKG2D surface expression on effector cells resulting in the impairment of anti-tumor immune response.

Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins (MIP) belong to the family of chemotactic cytokines known as chemokines. In humans, there are two major forms, MIP-1? and MIP-1? 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-? from fibroblasts and macrophages. The genes for CCL3 and CCL4 are both located on human chromosome 17.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

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.

GMP synthase (GMPS) is involved in purine biosynthesis. GMPS, which is a homodimer, catalyzes the last step in the GMP synthesis pathway, specifically the ATP-dependent amination of XMP to GMP. GMPS is comprised of one GMP-binding domain and one glutamine amidotransferase type-1 domain through which it communicates its catalytic activity. GMPS is engaged in the de novo synthesis of nucleotides which are not only vital for DNA and RNA synthesis, but also supply GTP, which is involved in sevral cellular processes important for cell division. GMPS gene chromosomal translocations are linked with acute myeloid leukemias, suggesting a possible role for GMPS in carcinogenesis.

Meprin A subunit beta (MEP1B) belongs to the astacin family of zinc endopeptidases 1, 2. MEP1B is a disulfide-linked, tetrameric metalloendopeptidase in renal brush border membranes. MEP1B is highly regulated, secreted cell-surface metalloendopeptidase, which is amply expressed in the kidney and intestine.

Alkaline Phosphatase Liver/Bone/Kidney (Alpl) is a part of the alkaline phosphatases family which comprises 4 related alkaline phosphatases. Alpl is a membrane-bound glycosylated enzyme which is not expressed in any particular tissue. Alpl takes part in skeletal mineralization.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 3 (BMP3) is one of the BMPs, some of which are members of the TGF-beta superfamily (BMP2-7). There are more than 13 BMPs, which are involved in inducing cartilage and bone formation, embryogenesis and morphogenesis of various tissues and organs. In addition, BMPs regulate the growth, differentiation, chemotaxis, and apoptosis of various cell types. Akin to most other TGF-beta family proteins, BMPs are extremely conserved across animal species. At the amino acid sequence level, mature human and rat BMP3 are 98% identical.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

The centromere is a specialized chromatin domain, present throughout the cell cycle, that acts as a platform on which the transient assembly of the kinetochore occurs during mitosis. All active centromeres are characterized by the presence of long arrays nucleosomes in which CENPA replaces histone H3. CENPM is an additional factor required for centromere assembly.