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Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) is a proteoglycan secreted by endothelial cells (mostly in the human lung and kidney tissues) and its mRNA expression is regulated by inflammatory cytokines. ESM1 has potent implications in lung endothelial cell-leukocyte interactions. In addition, ESM1 expression is detected in various epithelia and in adipocytes. ESM1 is involved in angiogenesis and it also promotes angiogenic sprouting. ESM1 expression is upregulated by TNF alpha, IL1 beta, or lipopolysaccharide and downregulated by IFN gamma. Genetically engineered cells overexpressing ESM1 induce tumor formation, implying that ESM1 might be involved in the pathophysiology of tumor growth in vivo.

Cell Growth Regulator with EF-Hand Domain 1, also known as CGREF1 is a secreted calcium ion binding protein. CGREF1 includes two EF-hand domains & both EF-hands are essential for function. CGREF1 is most likely digested extracellularly by an unfamiliar serine protease generating extremely hydrophobic bioactive peptides. CGREF1 mediates cell-cell adhesion in a calcium-dependent manner. In addition, CGREF1 is capable to inhibit growth in more than a few cell lines.

Isocitrate Dehydrogenase is an enzyme of the oxidoreductase class that catalyzes the conversion of isocitrate and NAD+ to yield 2-ketoglutarate, carbon dioxide, and NADH. It occurs in cell mitochondria. The enzyme requires Mg2+, Mn2+; it is activated by ADP, citrate, and Ca2+, and inhibited by NADH, NADPH, and ATP. The reaction is the key rate-limiting step of the citric acid (tricarboxylic) cycle.

PDIA3 is an enzyme that belongs to the endoplasmic reticulum and interacts with lectin chaperones calreticulin and calnexin to modulate folding of newly synthesized glycoproteins. PDIA3 has protein disulfide isomerase activity. Complexes of lectins and PDIA3 mediate protein folding by promoting formation of disulfide bonds in their glycoprotein substrates. PDIA3 is expressed in the lumbar spinal cord from rats submitted to peripheral lesion during neonatal period. PDIA3 interacts with thiazide-sensitive sodium-chloride cotransporter in the kidney and is induced by glucose deprivation. PDIA3 is part of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I peptide-loading complex (TAP1), which is important for formation of the final antigen conformation and export from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface.

The PARK7 is a ubiquitously expressed protein involved in various cellular processes including spermatogenesis and fertilization, cancer, RNA-binding, androgen-receptor signaling and oxidative stress. Mutations in the PARK7 are the cause of autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson’s disease 7 (Park7).

Mesoderm development candidate 1 (MESDC1) is a member of the MESD family. MESDC1 is a 362 amino acid protein encoded by a gene which maps to human chromosome 15q25.1. MESDC1 serves as a chaperone for low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) proteins in the ER, and specifically associates with Wnt signaling pathway coreceptors LRP5 and LPR6. MESDC1 is needed for proper LRP5/6 folding and maturation to the cell surface, which has a key role in Wnt signaling.

MTPN is an ankyrin repeat protein, that stimulates protein synthesis and cardiomyocyte growth to commence cardiac hypertrophy by activating the NF-kappaB signaling cascade. Myotrophin participates in cerebellar morphogenesis and takes part in differentiation of cerebellar neurons, particularly of granule cells. High levels of MTPN are expressed in human dilated cardiomyopathic and ischemic hearts.

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.

Autophagy Related 3 (ATG3) is a conjugating enzyme essential for the cytoplasm to vacuole transport (Cvt), autophagy, and mitochondrial homeostasis. ATG3 is localizes to the cytoplasm and is expressed in tissues with predominant levels found in kidney, placenta, liver, heart and skeletal muscle. ATG3 catalyzes a reaction which is necessary for autophagy. That reaction is the formation of the Atg8-phosphatidylethanolamine (ATG-PE) conjugate.

Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a phosphoprotein which shuffles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. NPM1 is assumed to be involved in a number of processes including regulation of the ARF/p53 pathway. Several genes fusion partners have been described, particularly the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene on chromosome 2. NPM1 gene mutations are linked with acute myeloid leukemia.

CDC34 is important in the control of cell cycle and DNA replication. Cdc34 in association with different E3 complexes, including SCF, has been shown to target many different substrates for ubiquitination and degradation during cell division, signal transduction, and development. Cdc34 substrates that have been characterized include I?B, B-Myb, Wee1, MyoD, ICERII?, ATF5, p27Xic1, and p27Kip1. Additionally, substrates such as ?-catenin, p21Cip1, E2F, cyclin E, and cyclin D are putative substrates of Cdc34 by virtue of their SCF requirement for proteolysis. Cdc34 has been demonstrated to self-associate through a domain in the C-terminus, and is phosphorylated and ubiquitinylated in vivo. This protein is useful for in vitro ubiquitinylation reactions.

pykF (pyruvate kinase I) is a member of the pyruvate kinase family. pykF is an enzyme involved in glycolysis. pykF catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to ADP, yielding one molecule of pyruvate and one molecule of ATP, a process which also requires a Magnesium ion. This is the final step in the glycolytic pathway, which produces pyruvate molecules, the ultimate product of aerobic glycolysis.

MAP1LC3B is a member of the MAP1 LC3 family. MAP1LC3B is a subunit of neuronal microtubule-associated MAP1A and MAP1B proteins, that are involved in microtubule assembly and important for neurogenesis. In addition, MAP1LC3B takes part in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles and is expressed mainly in heart, testis, brain and skeletal muscle.

GDF15 is part of the TGF-Beta superfamily which is involved in regulating inflammatory and apoptotic pathways in injured tissues and throughout disease processes. GDF15 is most abundant in the liver. Its expression in liver can be considerably up-regulated in during injury of organs such as liver, kidney, heart and lung. GDF-15 promotes proliferation or growth arrest and differentiation due to differences in cellular differentiation. GDF15 prevents apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons by activating Akt and inhibiting endogenously active ERK. GDF15 is a novel autocrine/endocrine factor that antagonizes the hypertrophic response and loss of ventricular performance.

SERPINA1 is secreted and is a serine protease inhibitor which its targets include elastase, plasmin, collagenase, leucocytic proteases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and plasminogen activator. Defects in SERPINA1 gene can cause emphysema or liver disease. SERPINA1 is an endogenous inhibitor of serine proteases and inhibits the catalytic domain of human recombinant matriptase in vitro. Rise in SERPINA1 occurs as an acute phase response to tissue necrosis and inflammation. mutations in SERPINA1 and SLC11A1 genes change the balance between elastase produced by leukocytes during phagocytosis.

Endoglin is a type I membrane glycoprotein located on cell surfaces and is part of the TGF beta receptor complex.The Endoglin protein consists of a homodimer of 180 kDA with disulfide links. Endoglin has been found on endothelial cells, activated macrophages, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, Endoglin has been found to be part of the TGF-beta1 receptor complex. Endoglin thus may be involved in the binding of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, activin-A, BMP-2, and BMP-7. Beside TGF-beta signaling endoglin may have other functions. It has been postulated that endoglin is involved in the cytoskeletal organization affecting cell morphology and migration. Endoglin has a role in the development of the cardiovascular system and in vascular remodeling. Endoglin expression is regulated during heart development . Experimental mice without the endoglin gene die due to cardiovascular abnormalities.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also called Human herpes virus 4 (HHV-4), is a virusof the herpes family(which includes Herpes simplex virusand Cytomegalovirus. On infecting the B-lymphocyte, the linear virus genome circularizes and the virus subsequently persists within the cell as an episome. The virus can execute several distinct programs of gene expressionwhich can be broadly categorized as being lytic cycle or latent cycle. The lytic cycleor productive infection results in staged expression of a host of viral proteinswith the ultimate objective of producing infectious virions. Formally, this phase of infection does not inevitably lead to lysis of the host cellas EBV virions are produced by budding from the infected cell. The latent cycle(lysogenic) programs are those that do not result in production of virions. A very limited, distinct set of viral proteins are produced during latent cycle infection. These include Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen(EBNA)-1, EBNA-2, EBNA-3A, EBNA-3B, EBNA-3C, EBNA-leader protein (EBNA-LP) and latent membrane proteins(LMP)-1, LMP-2A and LMP-2B and the Epstein-Barr encoded RNAs(EBERs).

Treponema pallidum is a gram-negative spirochaete bacterium and is considered to be metabolically crippled. There are at least four known subspecies: T. pallidum pallidum, T. pallidum pertenue, T. pallidum carateum and T. pallidum endemicum. The helical structure of T. pallidum pallidum allows it to move in a corkscrew motion through viscous mediums such as mucus. Treponema pallidum sub sp. pallidum has one of the smallest bacterial genomes at 1.14 million base pairs (Mb) and has limited metabolic capabilities, reflecting its adaptation through genome reduction to the rich environment of mammalian tissue.

SCGN is a secreted calcium-binding protein which is found in the cytoplasm. It is related to calbindin D-28K and calretinin. Secretagogin is involved in KCL-stimulated calcium flux and cell proliferation.
Secretagogin plays a role in human non-functional pituitary adenomas.

Ferredoxin-1 is a small iron-sulfur protein who transfers electrons from NADPH through ferredoxin reductase to a terminal cytochrome P450. This specific oxidation/reduction system is located in steroidogenic tissues, and is involved with the synthesis of bile acid and vitamin D. FDX1 takes part in the synthesis of thyroid hormones and transfers electrons from adrenodoxin reductase to the cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450. FDX1 supports reactions catalyzed by human microsomal P450s- full length CYP17, truncated CYP17, and truncated CYP21. In addition to the FDX1 at the 11q22chromosomal locus, there are pseudogenes located on chromosomes 20 and 21.

Microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3 beta 2 (MAP1LC3B2) is a member of the MAP1LC3 family. MAP1LC3B2 is a subunit of neuronal microtubule-associated MAP1A and MAP1B proteins, which are involved in microtubule assembly and essential for neurogenesis. The MAP1LC3B2 protein is possibly involved in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles (autophagosomes). MAP1LC3B2 is expressed primarily in the heart, testis, brain and skeletal muscle.

Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) is a secretory protein not normally expressed in healthy pancreas but highly induced during acute pancreatitis. While PAP has been shown to be anti-bacterial and antiapoptotic in vitro, its definitive biological function in vivo is not clear. Using antisepse oligonucleotides, inhibition of PAP expression significantly worsened pancreatitis in a rat model. During pancreatitis, PAP released by the pancreas could mediate lung inflammation through induction of hepatic TNF- alpha expression and subsequent increase in circulating TNF-alpha.
PAP is activated in primary liver cancers. In normal liver, the protein is undetectable in normal mature hepatocytes and found only in some ductular cells, representing potential hepatic progenitor cells. PAP can be considered hepatic cytokine that combines mitogenic and anti-apoptotic functions regarding hepatocytes, and consequently acts as a growth factor in vivo to enhance liver regeneration. In pancreatic cancor, PAP was overexpressed in 79% (30 of 38) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, 19% (7 of 36) of chronic pancreatitis, and 29% (2 of 7) of mucinous cystadenoma. PAP was found in malignant ductular structures in pancreatic carcinomas as well as in benign proliferating ductules and acinar cells in chronic pancreatitis. Elevation of PAP in patients with pancreatic cancer is not merely explainable by concomitant pancreatitis, but seems to be due to increased PAP production by the cancer cells and is also correlated to tumour load as expressed by the UICC stages.
Epithelial expression of PAP was induced under intestinal mucosal inflammation initiated by exposure to commensal bacteria or DSS as well as inflamed IBD colon. Increased serum level of PAP diagnosed ileal location in active Crohn disease with a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 94%, a positive predictive value of 84% and a negative predictive value of 81%. Elevated serum PAP (> 50 ng/mL) is significantly associated with disease activity and ileal location of Crohn disease.

The PARK7 is a ubiquitously expressed protein involved in various cellular processes including spermatogenesis and fertilization, cancer, RNA-binding, androgen-receptor signaling and oxidative stress. Mutations in the PARK7 are the cause of autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson’s disease 7 (Park7).

Egl Nine Homolog 3 (EGLN3) belongs to the EGLN family of prolyl hydroxylases. EGLN3 catalyzes hydroxylation of the ? subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor-?, which targets hypoxia-inducible factor-? for ubiquitination by a ubiquitin ligase complex containing the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor. EGLN3 is the most significant isozyme in limiting physiological activation of HIFs (especially HIF2A) in hypoxia. EGLN3 is activated in cardiovascular cells and Hela cells after exposure to hypoxia. In addition, EGLN3 hydroxylates PKM2 in hypoxia, thus limiting glycolysis. Under normoxia, EGLN3 hydroxylates and regulates the stability of ADRB2. EGLN3 is inhibited by polynitrogen compounds possibly by chelation to Fe2+ ions.