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Acyl-CoA synthetase family member 2, also known as ACSF2 is a member of the ATP-dependent AMP-binding enzyme family. Acyl-CoA synthetases are a family of enzymes which catalyze the thioesterification of fatty acids with coenzymeA to form activated intermediates, which play a basic part in lipid metabolism as well as homeostasis of lipid-related processes. ACSF2 is required for the complex of lipid synthesis, energy production via beta-oxidation, protein acylation and fatty-acid dependent transcriptional regulation. Moreover, ACSF2 is required for fatty acid import into cells by the process of vectorial acylation.

Collagen triple helix repeat-containing protein 1 or CTHRC1 acts as a negative regulator of collagen matrix deposition. The protein is secreted from a 28kDa protein which is glycosylated and very conserved from lower chordates to mammals. CTHRC1 is found qualitatively in plasma of healthy human subjects. CTHRC1 plasma levels are also significantly elevated during pregnancy, in diabetes, in inflammatory and infectious conditions, in subjects with acute myeloid leukemia but not in subjects with solid cancers.CTHRC1 is highly connected with calcified tissues and cartilaginous matrix, but not with endothelial cells.

The Casein kinase 2 (EC2.7.11.1) is a serine/threonine-selective protein kinasethat is a tetramer of two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. The alpha subunits have the catalytic kinase domain. Casein kinase 2 has been implicated in cell cyclecontrol, DNA repair, regulation of the circadian rhythmand other cellular processes. Casein kinase 2 activity has been reported to be activated following Wnt signaling pathwayactivation. A Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteinand Disheveled appear to be an intermediary between Wnt-mediated activation of the Frizzled receptor and activation of casein kinase 2.
Mice that lack casein kinase 2 alpha prime have a defect in the morphology of developing sperm.

ATF1, a cyclic-AMP dependent transcription factor, is expressed in a large selection of cell types and can dimerize with CREB. MSK1 and MSK2 protein kinases are essential for the stress-induced phosphorylation of transcription factors CREB and ATF1 in primary embryonic fibroblasts. Epidermal growth factor induction of c-jun expression needs ATF1 and MEF2 sites in the c-jun promoter.

VEGF-C, also known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Related Protein (VRP), is a recently discovered VEGF growth factor family member that is most closely related to VEGF-D. Human VEGF-C cDNA encodes a pre-pro-protein of 416 amino acids residues. It is almost identical to the mouse VEGF-C protein. Similar to VEGF-D, VEGF-C has a VEGF homology domain spanning the middle third of the precursor molecule and long N- and C-terminal extensions. In adults, VEGF-C is highly expressed in heart, placenta, ovary and small intestine. Recombinant human VEGF-C, lacking the N- and C-terminal extensions and containing only the middle VEGF homology domain, forms primarily non-covalently linked dimers. This protein is a ligand for both VEGFR-2/KDR and VEGFR-3/FLT-4. Since VEGFR-3 is strongly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells, it has been postulated that VEGF-C is involved in the regulation of the growth and/or differentiation of lymphatic endothelium. Although recombinant human VEGF-C is also a mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, it is much less potent than VEGF-A.

SUMF1 is a member of the SUMF family. SUMF1 catalyzes the hydrolysis of sulfate esters by oxidizing a cysteine residue in the substrate sulfatase to an active site 3-oxoalanine residue called C-alpha-formylglycine. Alterations in this gene result in multiple sulfatase deficiency which is a lysosomal storage disorder.

The gene for TNFRSF12A was initially recognized as a fibroblast growth factor inducible immediate early response gene Fn14 in mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Human TNFRSF12A cDNA encodes a 129 amino acid residue type I transmembrane protein with a 27 aa signal peptide, a 53 aa extracellular domain, a 21 aa transmembrane domain and a 28 aa cytoplasmic domain. Human and mouse TNFRSF12A hold 82% aa sequence identity. TNFRSF12 is the tiniest member of the TNF receptor superfamily and has only one cysteine rich region in its extracellular domain. The TNFRSF12A cytoplasmic domain holds one TRAF binding motif which binds TRAFs 1, 2, and 3. TNFRSF12A binds its ligand TWEAK/TNFSF12A with high affinity to initiate a signal transduction cascade which subject to the cell type, causes different cellular responses such as cell death, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis.

ASF1A is part of the H3/H4 family of histone chaperone proteins corresponding to the anti-silencing function-1 gene in yeast. ASF1A is an important element of the histone donor complex that functions in nucleosome assembly. ASF1A interacts with histones H3 and H4, and functions together with a chromatin assembly factor during DNA replication and repair. Deletion of ASF1A in yeast and Drosophila confers sensitivity to various DNA damaging agents and inhibitors of DNA replication, increases genomic instability and sister chromatid exchange, and activates the DNA damage checkpoint.

SF20 plays a role in proliferation of lymphoid cells and is considered an interleukin. SF20 was initially identified as a product of bone marrow-derived stromal cells.

NGF-beta has nerve growth stimulating activity and the complex is involved in the regulation of growth and the differentiation of sympathetic and certain sensory neurons. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 5 (HSAN5), and dysregulation of this gene's expression is associated with allergic rhinitis.

Mycobacterium antigen ESAT6 has been isolated from low molecular weight fractions of the shot-term-culture filtrate (ST-CF) and it can easily be detected in tuberculosis patients. The export of ESAT-6 which is a potent T-cell antigen, and related proteins requires a dedicated secretory apparatus that is encoded by a group of genes, several of which also code for proteins that are recognized strongly by T cells. The ESAT-6 systems can consequently be considered as immunogenicity islands and there is mounting evidence that the equivalent genes are subject to selective pressure imposed by the immune system of the host. This antigen includes many epitopes detectable in the serum of most patients with tuberculosis (more than 90%). By the attempts to obtain the vaccine on the basis of ESAT-6 it was demonstrated that the optimization of adjuvant is very important when using the combination of dioctadecylammonium bromide and monophosphoryllipide. ESAT-6 is very potential as diagnostic for differentiation between the mycobacterial infection and BCG vaccination. The main topic in ESAT-6 using is in antibody production and in test-systems for tuberculosis elaboration. Early secretory antigen 6 (ESAT6) and cell filtrate protein 10 (CFP10) are 2 antigens secreted as a complex by the replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC).

TNFR2 belongs to the TNF-receptor superfamily. TNFR2 is receptor with high affinity for TNFSF2/TNF-alpha and approximately 5-fold lower affinity for homotrimeric TNFSF1/lymphotoxin-alpha. TNFR2 mediates the majority of the metabolic effects of TNF-alpha. In addition, knockout studies in mice propose a role for TNFR2 in protecting neurons from apoptosis by stimulating antioxidative pathways. TNFR2 expression might have a significant role in the angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation and metastasis of Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast.
There are 2 types of soluble TNF receptors: sTNFR-I and sTNFR-II, which act to neutralize the biological activities of TNF alpha and TNF beta. The levels of these soluble receptors seem to increase as a result of shedding of the extracellular domains of the membrane bound receptors. High levels of soluble TNF receptors are found in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. TNFR2 and TNFR1 form a heterocomplex which mediates the recruitment of 2 anti-apoptotic proteins, c-IAP1 and c-IAP2, which possess E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. IAPs’ function in TNF-receptor signaling is unknown; nevertheless, c-IAP1 is believed to potentiate TNF-induced apoptosis by the ubiquitination and degradation of TNF-receptor-associated factor 2, which mediates anti-apoptotic signals. Oxidative stress promotes TNFR1 and TNFR2 self-interaction, ligand-independent and enhanced ligand-dependent TNF signaling. TNF-a, TNFR1 and TNFR2 have roles in cellular differentiation. TNFR1 and TNFR2 function in cell type-specific renal injury.

The Casein kinase 2 (EC2.7.11.1) is a serine/threonine-selective protein kinasethat is a tetramer of two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. The alpha subunits have the catalytic kinase domain. Casein kinase 2 has been implicated in cell cyclecontrol, DNA repair, regulation of the circadian rhythmand other cellular processes.
Casein kinase 2 activity has been reported to be activated following Wnt signaling pathwayactivation. A Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteinand Disheveled appear to be an intermediary between Wnt-mediated activation of the Frizzled receptor and activation of casein kinase 2.
Mice that lack casein kinase 2 alpha prime have a defect in the morphology of developing sperm.

The Casein kinase 2 (EC 2.7.11.1) is a serine/threonine-selective protein kinase that is a tetramer of two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. The alpha subunits have the catalytic kinase domain. Casein kinase 2 has been implicated in cell cycle control, DNA repair, regulation of the circadian rhythm and other cellular processes. Casein kinase 2 activity has been reported to be activated following Wnt signaling pathway activation. A Pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and Disheveled appear to be an intermediary between Wnt-mediated activation of the Frizzled receptor and activation of casein kinase 2. Mice that lack casein kinase 2 alpha prime have a defect in the morphology of developing sperm.

Casein kinase 2 subunit alpha (CSNK2A2) controls numerous cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression, apoptosis and transcription, as well as viral infection. CSNK2A2 protein functions as a regulatory node which integrates and coordinates numerous signals leading to an appropriate cellular response.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important signaling protein involved in vessel formation As its name implies, VEGF activity has been mostly studied on cells of the vascular endothelium, although it does have effects on a number of other cell types (e.g. stimulation monocyte/macrophage migration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells ). VEGF mediates increased vascular permeability, induces vasculogenesis and endothelial cell production, promotes cell migration, and inhibits apoptosis. In vitro, VEGF has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesis and cell migration. VEGF is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor. VEGF is located in normal cartilage though only osteoarthritic cartilage expresses the VEGF receptors, NP1, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. The VEGF level in the culture media from OA chondrocytes was more than 3 folds higher than in media from normal chondrocytes

CD70 also known as TNFSF7 is a cytokine which binds to CD27. TNFSF7 takes part in T-cell activation as well as induces the proliferation of costimulated T-cells. Moreover, TNFSF7 enhances the generation of cytolytic T-cells. Among the diseases which are associated with TNFSF7: Include acute myocarditis & Myocarditis.

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.

VEGF-C, also known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Related Protein (VRP), is a recently discovered VEGF growth factor family member that is most closely related to VEGF-D. The rat VEGFC cDNA encodes a pre-pro-protein of 416 amino acids residues.
It is almost identical to the mouse VEGF-C protein. Similar to VEGF-D, VEGF-C has a VEGF homology domain spanning the middle third of the precursor molecule and long N- and C-terminal extensions. In adults, VEGF-C is highly expressed in heart, placenta, ovary and small intestine. Recombinant rat VEGF-C, lacking the N- and C-terminal extensions and containing only the middle VEGF homology domain, forms primarily non-covalently linked dimers. This protein is a ligand for both VEGFR-2/KDR and VEGFR-3/FLT -4. Since VEGFR-3 is strongly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells, it has been postulated that VEGF-C is involved in the regulation of the growth and/or differentiation of lymphatic endothelium. Although recombinant rat VEGF-C is also a mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, it is much less potent than VEGF-A.

VEGF-C152S is a point mutant generated by the replacement of the second conserved Cys residue of the recombinant processed VEGF-C by a Ser residue. VEGF-C 152S is analog to the human VEGF-C 156S mutant and only active toward VEGFR-3/FLT-4 but, unlike wild type VEGF-C, is unable to bind to and to activate signaling through VEGFR-2/KDR. VEGF-C152S was inactive in the vascular permeability assay and did not increase migration of the capillary endothelial cells, indicating that these VEGF-like effects of VEGF-C require VEGFR-2 binding. VEGF-C, also known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Related Protein (VRP), is a recently discovered VEGF growth factor family member that is most closely related to VEGF-D. The rat VEGF-C cDNA encodes a pre-pro-protein of 416 amino acids residues. It is almost identical to the mouse VEGF-C protein. Similar to VEGF-D, VEGF-C has a VEGF homology domain spanning the middle third of the precursor molecule and long N- and C-terminal extensions. In adults, VEGF-C is highly expressed in heart, placenta, ovary and small intestine. Recombinant rat VEGF-C, lacking the N- and C-terminal extensions and containing only the middle VEGF homology domain, forms primarily non-covalently linked dimers. This protein is a ligand for both VEGFR-2/KDR and VEGFR-3/FLT -4. Since VEGFR-3 is strongly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells, it has been postulated that VEGF-C is involved in the regulation of the growth and/or differentiation of lymphatic endothelium. Although recombinant rat VEGF-C is also a mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, it is much less potent than VEGF-A.

BDNF is crucial for the signal survival eukaryotes. BDNF is responsible for the development, repair, adaptation and proper functionality of the nervous system.
BDNF major roles include Neuron survival and development, synaptic flexibility, stress adaptation, Repair and recovery post injury/disease and Pain signaling.

Upstream Transcription Factor 1 (USF1) belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper family, and functions as a cellular transcription factor. USF1 activates transcription via pyrimidine-rich initiator (Inr) elements and E-box motifs. The USF1 gene has been linked to familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL). USF1 is a transcription factor which binds to a symmetrical DNA sequence (E-boxes) (5'-CACGTG-3') found in a various viral and cellular promoters.

Heat Shock Transcription Factor, Y-Linked 1 (HSFY1) is a member of the heat shock factor (HSF) family of transcriptional activators for heat shock proteins. HSFY1 is localizes to an area of chromosome Y which is from time to time deleted in infertile males and therefore is considered a gene for azoospermia. The genome has 2 identical duplicates of HSFY1 within a palindromic area.

Platelet factor-4 is a 70-amino acid protein that is released from the alpha-granules of activated platelets. Its major physiologic role appears to be neutralization of molecules on the endothelial surface of blood vessels, thereby inhibiting local antithrombin III activity and promoting coagulation. As a strong chemoattractant for neutrophils and fibroblasts, PF4 probably has a role in inflammation and wound repair. Oncostatin-A is a member of the CXC chemokine family. Furthermore it is used as an inhibitor in the angiogenesis during tumor therapy.