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Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that belongs to the transferrin family of iron binding proteins. It is found in human breast milk as well as most epithelial surface secretions including tears, nasogastric, saliva, and bronchial. Lactoferrin binds 2 molecules of iron with very high affinity. Lactoferrin inhibits bacterial growth by withholding iron, its N-terminal region is an antimicrobial peptide. Lactotransferrin acts synergistically with lysozyme to potentiate the activity of both proteins. The multifunctional protein lactoferrin has many physiological possible roles. It is often referred to as an innate defense protein and frequently serves as the first line of defense in protection against pathogens. It has been shown to have the ability to bind iron, it is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, it is an antioxidant and it also has immunomodulatory properties. It has many beneficial properties, which make it a good candidate for a number of product applications. Considerable research is currently going on to explain the various suggested biological functions of lactoferrin.

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein FABP4 is a 15 kDa member of the intracellular fatty acid binding protein (FABP) family, which is known for the ability to bind fatty acids and related compounds (bile acids or retinoids) in an internal cavity. FABP4 is expressed in a differentiation-dependent fashion in adipocytes and is a critical gene in the regulation of the biological function of these cells.
In mice, targeted mutations in FABP4 provide significant protection from IR in the context of both dietary and genetic obesity. Adipocytes obtained from FABP4-deficient mice also have reduced efficiency of ipolysis in vitro and in vivo, and these mice exhibited moderately improved systemic dyslipidemia. Recent studies also demonstrated FABP4 expression in macrophages upon differentiation and activation. In these cells, FABP4 modulates inflammatory responses and cholesterol ester accumulation, and total or macrophage-specific FABP4 deficiency confers dramatic protection against atherosclerosis in the apoE-/- mice. These results indicate a central role for FABP4 in the development of major components of the metabolic syndrome through its distinct actions in adipocytes and macrophages.

B lymphoid kinase (BLK) is a 55kDa tyrosine kinase with SH3, SH2, and catalytic domains which contain consensus sequences of the Src protein tyrosine kinase family. BLK is a nonreceptor tyrosine-kinase belonging to the src family of proto-oncogenes which are typically involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. The BLK protein is expressed specifically in the B cell lineage and has a role in the signal-transduction pathway which is restricted to B lymphoid cells. In addition, BLK stimulates ins. synthesis and secretion in response to glucose and increases the expression of several pancreatic beta-cell transcription factors.

Prohibitin (PHB) is an evolutionarily conserved gene that is ubiquitously expressed and which Mutations have been linked to sporadic breast cancer. PHB is thought to be a negative regulator of cell proliferation and may be a tumor suppressor. Prohibitin is expressed as two transcripts with changeable lengths of 3' untranslated region. The longer transcript is present at higher levels in proliferating tissues and cells, proposing that this longer 3' untranslated region functions as a trans-acting regulatory RNA.

FKBP6 is part of the immunophilin protein family, and is involved in immunoregulation and basic cellular functions involving protein folding and trafficking. FKBP6 is widely expressed in all tissues, FKBP6 is present at utmost levels in testis, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle and heart. Deletion of FKBP6 contributes to hypercalcemia and growth delay in Williams-Beuren syndrome.

GHBP is a transmembrane receptor for growth hormone. Binding of growth hormone to the receptor leads to receptor dimerization and the activation of an intra- and intercellular signal transduction pathway leading to growth. A common alternate allele of this gene, called GHRd3, lacks exon three and has been well-characterized. Mutations in this gene have been associated with Laron syndrome, also known as the growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS), a disorder characterized by short stature. Other splice variants, including one encoding a soluble form of the protein (GHRtr), have been observed but have not been thoroughly characterized.

Ribosomes, the organelles which catalyze protein synthesis, consist of a small 40S subunit and a large 60S subunit. Together these subunits are comprised of four RNA species and approximately 80 structurally distinct proteins. Ribosomal Protein L12 (RPL12) protein is a member of the L11P family of ribosomal proteins. RPL12 is a component of the 60S subunit, which is located in the cytoplasm. RPL12 binds directly to the 26S rRNA.

ARL2BP is an effector of ADP-ribosylation factor-like 2(ARL2) which is vital for nuclear retention of STAT3. The ARL2BP protein binds to ARL2.GTP with high affinity but does not interact with ARL2.GDP, activated ARF, or RHO proteins. Though primarily cytosolic, ARL2BP can enter the mitochondria and bind the adenine nucleotide transporter while bound to ARL2. Accordingly, it may also be involved in mitochondria transport and apoptosis.

BLVRB (EC 1.3.1.24) catalyzes electron transfer from reduced pyridine nucleotides to flavins as well as methylene blue, pyrroloquinoline quinone, riboflavin, or methemoglobin. BLVRB is involved in protecting cells from oxidative damage or in regulating iron metabolism. BLVRB converts biliverdin to bilirubin in the liver, converting a double-bond between the second and third pyrrole ring into a single-bond. BLVRB plays a role as in human erythrocytic heme catabolic pathway and most mammalian species. Biliverdin reductase is abundantly expressed in kidney, spleen, liver and brain as well as at lower levels in the thymus and minimal levels being detected in testis.

The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a family of secreted signaling molecules that can induce ectopic bone growth. Many BMPs are part of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) superfamily. BMPs were originally identified by an ability of demineralized bone extract to induce endochondral osteogenesis in vivo in an extraskeletal site. Based on its expression early in embryogenesis, the BMP encoded by this gene has a proposed role in early development. In addition, the fact that this BMP is closely related to BMP5 and BMP7 has lead to speculation of possible bone inductive activity.

Lymphokine-activated killer T-cell-originated protein kinase (PBK) is a serine/threonine kinase related to the dual specific mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKK) family. PBK is abundant in placenta (is also found in the testis’ outer cell layer of seminiferous tubules) and absent from adult brain tissue. PBK is involved in the activation of lymphoid cells and supports testicular functions, with a possible role in the process of spermatogenesis. Mitotic phosphorylation is required for PBK’s catalytic activity. Once phosphorylated,PBK forms a complex with TP53, leading to TP53 destabilization and weakening of G2/M checkpoint during some kind of DNA damage. PBK is active only during mitosis. In addition, a PDZ domain in the tumor suppressor protein Dlg can coordinate with the T/SXV motif of PBK. PBK also phosphorylates MAP kinase p38, and may have a role in the activation of lymphoid cells.

Recombinant Fatty Acid Binding Protein is a newly introduced plasma marker of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The plasma kinetics of FABP (15kD) closely resemble those of myoglobin in that elevated plasma concentrations are found within 2 hours after AMI and return to normal generally within 18 to 24 hours. But the concentration of FABP in the skeletal muscle is 20 times lower than in cardiac tissue (for myoglobin the same content for cardiac and skeletal tissue), that makes FABP to be more cardiac specific than myoglobin. This makes FABP a useful biochemical marker for the early assessment or exclusion of AMI. FABP also appears to be a useful plasma marker for the estimation of myocardial infarct size.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF) is a small integral membrane protein of lysosome/late endosome. The expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha in Lipopolysaccharide-induced processes is mediated by LITAF. LITAF connects to STAT6B, which belongs to the STAT6 family forming a complex on the TNF-alpha promoter that modifies TNF activity. High levels of expression of LITAF mRNA are observed mostly in the placenta, peripheral blood leukocytes, lymph nodes and spleen.

Recombinant Fatty Acid Binding Protein is a newly introduced plasma marker of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The plasma kinetics of FABP (15kD) closely resemble those of myoglobin in that elevated plasma concentrations are found within 2 hours after AMI and return to normal generally within 18 to 24 hours. But the concentration of FABP in the skeletal muscle is 20 times lower than in cardiac tissue (for myoglobin the same content for cardiac and skeletal tissue), that makes FABP to be more cardiac specific than myoglobin. This makes FABP a useful biochemical marker for the early assessment or exclusion of AMI. FABP also appears to be a useful plasma marker for the estimation of myocardial infarct size.

PCBP1 is a single-stranded nucleic acid binding protein that binds preferentially to oligo dC. PCBP1 plays a role in formation of a sequence-specific alpha-globin mRNP complex which is associated with alpha-globin mRNA stability. PCBP1 along with PCBP-2 and hnRNPK corresponds to the major cellular poly(rC)-binding protein. PCBP1 and PCBP-2 also functions as translational coactivators of poliovirus RNA via a sequence-specific interaction with stem-loop IV of the IRES and promotes poliovirus RNA replication by binding to its 5'-terminal cloverleaf structure.

RANBP1 is a member of a family of proteins which bind Ran GTPase. Ran GTPase is vital for cell cycle control, mRNA processing, nuclear transport, mitotic spindle assembly, and postmitotic nuclear re-assembly and nuclear architecture maintenance. RANBP1 does not stimulate GTPase activity of RAN however RANBP1 does distinctly raise GTP hydrolysis by the RanGTPase-activating protein (RanGAP1). Additionally, RANBP1 operates as a negative regulator of RCC1 by inhibiting RCC1-stimulated guanine nucleotide release from RAN.

Natriuretic Peptide A (NPPA) is a part of the natriuretic peptide family and is involved in cardiovascular homeostasis through regulation of natriuresis, diuresis, and vasodilation. NPPA is synthesized as a great precursor which releases a peptide from the N-terminus with similarity to vasoactive peptide, cardiodilatin, and another peptide from the C-terminus with natriuretic-diuretic activity. In female pregnancy, NPPA is promoting trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling in uterus.

Fibrinogen silencer-binding protein (FSBP), interacts with X11alpha. The X11alpha/FSBP complex send signals to the nucleus in order to repress glycogen synthase kinase-3beta promoter activity. X11alpha is a neuronal adaptor protein that interacts with the amyloid precursor protein (APP) via a centrally located phosphotyrosine binding domain to inhibit the production of Abeta peptide that is deposited in Alzheimer's diseased brains.

Lipocalin-2 also called Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) belongs to a family of lipocans which include 25 proteins (including a1-microglobulin and b-lactoglobulin), which are characterized by their ability to bind small lipophilic substances in their hydrophobic core.
They thereby serve as transporters of substances like retinal, biliverdins & prostaglandins. There are indications that NGAL is involved in modulation of the inflammatory response and is found in the plasma of patients after stroke.

Leptin is a protein hormone. It is mainly produced in adipose cells that regulate energy homeostasis by restraining hunger. Leptin ties to nuclear receptors in the hypothalamus (arcuate nucleus). Similar to insulin resistance in type II diabetes, in obesity there is a decrease in the sensitivity towards leptin, ending in a failure to identify satiety, even in high levels of energy stores or leptin itself. Full-length cDNA encoding 2 leptin sequences (tLepA and tLepB) and 1 leptin receptor sequence (tLepR) exists in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The full-length cDNA of tLepR is 3423 bp, encoding a protein of 1140 amino acid which contained all functionally important domains conserved among vertebrate leptin receptors. The cDNAs of tLepA and tLepB are 486 bp and 459 bp in length, encoding proteins of 161 aa and 152 aa, respectively. The three-dimensional structures of tLepA and tLepB demonstrates strong conservation of tertiary structure with that of human leptin comprised of 4 helixes.

Matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP14), is a membrane-anchored zinc-binding endopeptidase which is expressed at the leading edge of different invasive carcinomas and also promotes tumor cell invasion through degradation of the extracellular matrix. MMP14 takes a vital part in extracellular matrix, ECM, remodeling by having the capability to degrade type I collagen, activate pro-MMP-2 and process cell adhesion molecules for instance CD44 and integrin alpha V. MMP14 is a key enzyme in many physiological as well as pathological processes for example angiogenesis & tumor invasion.

NPPC is proteolytically managed to create a secreted hormone of the natriuretic peptide family. NPPC is vasoactive and natriuretic and controls the evolution and differentiation of cartilaginous growth plate chondrocytes.

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor also called LIF is a lymphoid factor that promotes long-term maintenance of embryonic stem cells by suppressing spontaneous differentiation. Leukemia Inhibitory Factor has several functions such as cholinergic neuron differentiation, control of stem cell pluripotency, bone & fat metabolism, mitogenesis of factor dependent cell lines & promotion of megakaryocyte production in vivo. Human and mouse LIF exhibit a 78% identity in its amino acid sequence.

Ribosomal Protein L5, also known as RPL5 is a part of the ribosomal protein L18P family. RPL5 which binds 5S RNA is necessary for rRNA maturation and structure of the 60S ribosomal subunits.