Search results

a-Synuclein (amino acids 1-140), an acidic neuronal protein of 140 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant and is natively unfolded with an extended structure primarily composed of random coils. a-synuclein has been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and more recently, to be an important regulatory component of vesicular transport in neuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies have shown that a-synuclein has chaperone activity and that this activity is lost upon removing its C-terminal acidic tail (amino acids 96-140).

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 11 (CCL11) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that is also known as eotaxin. CCL11 selectively recruits eosinophils by inducing their chemotaxis, and therefore, is implicated in allergic responses. The effects of CCL11 are mediated by its binding to a G-protein-linked receptor known as a chemokine receptor. Chemokine receptors for which CCL11 is a ligand include CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5. The gene for human CCL11 (scya11) is encoded on three exons and is located on chromosome 17.

Tachykinin-1 (TAC1) belongs to the tachykinin peptide hormone family. TAC1 are a family of peptides which have similar biologic activities and share a common C-terminal sequence, phe-X-gly-leu-met-NH2, however they have distinct N-terminal sequences that convey receptor specificities. TAC1 is assumed to act as neurotransmitters which interact with nerve receptors and smooth muscle cells. TAC1 induces behavioral responses and serves as vasodilators and secretagogues.

Tachykinin-3 belongs to the substance P-related tachykinin family. Tachykinins are active peptides that stimulate neurons, induce behavioral responses, are effective vasodilators and secretagogues, and contract (directly or indirectly) many smooth muscles. TAC3 and its receptor are essential switches of regulator of human puberty, regulated by the brain through the release of the GnRH which starts a chain of processes which eventually lead to the production of sex hormones.
During pregnancy, the expression of TAC3 is restricted to the outer syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta, significant concentrations of TAC3 can be identified in plasma as early as week 9, and plasma concentrations of TAC3 are grossly elevated in pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Higher Tachykinin-3 concentrations in normotensive pregnant women may be caused by the advanced gestational age and/or the result of a negative interaction of other vasoactive substances. TAC3 has a role in the continuance of high placental blood flow in normal pregnancy.

FAM50A is a member of the FAM50 family. FAM50A is highly conserved in length and sequence among numerous species. FAM50A is a basic protein comprised of a nuclear localization signal, and can function as a DNA-binding protein or a transcriptional factor. FAM50A expressed in all tissues mainly abundant in fetal brain, liver and kidney. High levels of FAM50A were observed in the adult's skeletal muscle, spleen, thymus, prostate and the small intestine.

Synaptobrevin 1(Vehicle-associated membrane, VAMP1) is one of the key proteins in the SNARE complex which is involved in regulated exocytosis. Synaptobrevin1 binds to t-SNAREs, syntaxin (STX) and SNAP25, after the fusion of synaptic vesicles to plasma membrane.

VAPB Vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)-associated protein B (aka VAPB) is a type IV transmembrane protein and belongs to the VAP family of proteins. VAPB may have a role in vesicle trafficking. VAPB is found in plasma and intracellular vesicle membranes as a homodimer and heterodimer with VAPA, and interacts with VAMP1 and VAMP2. VAPB defects are the basis for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 8 and spinal muscular atrophy autosomal dominant Finkel type.

Major pollen allergen Aln g 1 (Aln G 1.0101) causes an allergic reaction in humans.

Fractalkine soluble form is chemotactic for t-cells and monocytes, but not for neutrophils. Fractalkine membrane-bound form promotes adhesion of those leukocytes to endothelial cells. Fractalkine regulates leukocyte adhesion and migration processes at the endothelium and binds to CX3CR1. Natural Human Fractalkine is produced as a long protein (373-amino acid) with an extended mucin-like stalk and a chemokine domain on top. The mucin-like stalk permits it to bind to the cell surface. Fractalkine gene is located on human chromosome 16 along with some CC chemokines known as CCL17 and CCL22.

Pallidin is involved in intracellular vesicle trafficking. PLDN cooperates with Syntaxin 13 that facilitates intracellular membrane fusion. A Few alternatively spliced transcript variations of this gene have been discovered however the full-length nature of several of these variants has not been determined. PLDN takes part in the creation of lysosome-related organelles, for example melanosomes and platelet-dense granules. PLDN is known to cooperate with Dysbindin, BLOC1S1, STX12, CNO, MUTED, SNAPAP and BLOC1S2.

CHGB is a neuroendocrine secretory granule protein, that is the precursor for other biologically active peptides. CHGB is part of the chromogranin/secretogranin protein family and is expressed in the adrenal medulla, and in pheochromocytoma.

Annexin A13 (ANXA13) belongs to the annexin protein family, whose members play a role in cytoskeletal interactions, phospholipase inhibition, regulation of cellular growth, and intracellular signal transduction pathways. ANXA13 is believed to be the original originator of the 12 members of vertebrate annexins. ANXA13 expression is decidedly tissue-specific, being expressed only in intestinal and kidney epithelial cells. This expression is linked with a highly differentiated intracellular transport function.

FARSB, also known as Phenylalanyl-TRNA Synthetase Beta is a member of the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase beta subunit family. FARSB is composed tetramer of two alpha and two beta subunits. In the presence of ATP, this tetramer is accountable for attaching L-phenylalanine to the terminal adenosine of the appropriate tRNA.

VCPKMT is a member of the methyltransferase superfamily. VCPKMT is a protein-lysine N-methyltransferase which specifically trimethylates 'Lys-315' of VCP/p97; this alteration reduces VCP ATPase activity.

Serpin Peptidase Inhibitor, Clade A Member 9, also known as serpin A9, belongs to the Serpin superfamily of serine protease inhibitors. Serpins are the most extensively distributed superfamily of protease inhibitors which use a conformational modification to inhibit target enzymes. Serpins are known to inhibit serine proteases as well as inhibiting caspases in addition to papain-like cysteine proteases. Serpins are conformational labile and numerous of the disease-linked mutations of serpins outcome in misfolding or in pathogenic, inactive polymers. serpin A9 demonstrates inhibition towards trypsin, thrombin, as well as plasmin and binds DNA and heparin.

YWHAB belongs to the 14-3-3 family of proteins which are in charge for signal transduction by binding to phosphoserine-containing proteins. YWHAB is found in both plants and mammals. YWHAB protein interacts with RAF1 and CDC25 phosphatases,thus linking mitogenic signaling and the cell cycle machinery. YWHAB is an adapter protein involved in the regulation of a large spectrum of both general and specialized signaling pathway. YWHAB binds to a large number of proteins by recognition of a phosphoserine or phosphothreonine motif. Binding generally results in the modulation of the activity of the binding partner.

BDNF promotes the survival of neuronal populations that are all located either in the central nervous system or directly connected to it. BDNF is a major regulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity at adult synapses in many regions of the cns. The versatility of BDNF is emphasized by its contribution to a range of adaptive neuronal responses including long-term potentiation (ltp), long-term depression (ltd), certain forms of short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as homeostatic regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability.

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase 2 cytoplasmic (PAFAH2) has a marked selectivity for phospholipids with short acyl chains at the sn-2 position. PAFAH2 may share a mutual physiologic function with the plasma-type enzyme.

Surfeit-2 (SURF2) is a member of the SURF2 family. SURF2 interacts with beta-1, 4-Gal-T3, uPAR and WDR20. SURF2 is located in the surfeit gene cluster, a group of extremely tightly linked genes that don't share sequence similarity. The SURF2 gene maps to human chromosome 9q34.2 and shares a bidirectional promoter with SURF1 that is found on the opposite strand. The intergenic region between the SURF1 and SURF2 genes is expected to have bidirectional promoter activity, as is found in mice.

Alpha-cardiac actin belongs to the actin family which is comprised of three main groups of actin isoforms, alpha, beta, and gamma. The alpha actins are found in muscle tissues and are a major constituent of the contractile apparatus. Defects in the cardiac actin have been associated with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC).

GADD45GIP1 is a nuclear protein which takes part in apoptosis control. GADD45GIP1 is expressed in several tissues, such as heart, thyroid, trachea, kidney, ovary, pancreas, testis and stomach and acts as a negative regulator of G1 to S phase cell cycle production by collaborating with GADD45 proteins to inhibit the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases.

Recoverin is a member of the recoverin family of neuronal calcium sensors. Recoverin is a heterogeneously acylated calcium-binding and intracellular signal transduction 23kDa protein in the photoreceptor cells of retina. Recoverin contains four EF-hands, of which two bind Ca. Ca-induced extrusion of the acyl group from a hydrophobic cleft in the protein drives the translocation of recoverin from solution to the disc membrane. Recoverin may prolong the termination of the phototransduction cascade in the retina by blocking the phosphorylation of photo-activated rhodopsin. Recoverin plays a key role in the inhibition of rhodopsin kinase, a molecule that regulates the phosphorylation of rhodopsin. This in due course controls the ability of the eye to adapt to, and recover from, exposure to the presence of light. Recoverin is a detectable serologic protein that is expressed in patients with cancer-associated retinopathy, a paraneoplastic syndrome.

CUTA is the 179 amino acid mammalian homolog of the cutA E. coli protein and is ubiquitously expressed, particularly in brain tissue. CUTA participates in cellular tolerance to a broad range of divalent cations other than copper. The CUTA protein is a cytoplasmic protein, encoded by the single-gene operon and has been related to divalent cation tolerance.