Cytokeratins (CK) are intermediate filaments of epithelial cells, both in keratinising tissue (ie., skin) and non keratinising cells (ie., mesothelial cells). Although not a traditional marker for endothelial cells, cytokeratins have also been found in some microvascular endothelial cells. At least 20 different cytokeratins (CK) in the molecular range of 40 to 70 kDa and isoelectric points of 5 to 8.5 can be identified using two dimensional gel electrophoresis. Biochemically, most members of

Pentraxins are plasma proteins characterized by their pentameric discoid assembly and their Ca2+ dependent ligand binding, such as Serum amyloid P component (SAP) and C-reactive Protein (CRP), which are cytokine-inducible acute-phase proteins implicated in innate immunity. CRP binds to ligands containing phosphocholine, SAP binds to amyloid fibrils, DNA, chromatin, fibronectin, C4-binding proteins and glycosaminoglycans. “Long“ pentraxins have N-terminal extensions to the common pentraxin

Proteins in the thymosin beta family are highly conserved polar peptides that bind monomeric Actin and thereby inhibit Actin polymerization. These proteins act as the main intracellular G-Actin sequestering peptides. The most abundant thymosin beta family member in mammalian cells and tissues is thymosin beta-4 (Tbeta-4), also designated Seraspenide. T beta-4 participates in several cellular events including cancerogenesis, apoptosis, angiogenesis, blood coagulation and would healing. Specif

Addition of nucleotide-activated sugars directly onto the polypeptide through O-glycosidic linkage with the hydroxyl of serine or threonine. Mediates the O-glycosylation of MLL5 and HCFC1. Promotes proteolytic maturation of HCFC1. Since both phosphorylation and glycosylation compete for similar serine or threonine residues, the two processes may compete for sites, or they may alter the substrate specificity of nearby sites by steric or electrostatic effects. O-GlcNAc transferase has been puri

The product encoded by this gene is involved in the maintenance of iron homeostasis, and it is necessary for the regulation of iron storage in macrophages, and for intestinal iron absorption. The preproprotein is post-translationally cleaved into mature peptides of 20, 22 and 25 amino acids, and these active peptides are rich in cysteines, which form intramolecular bonds that stabilize their beta-sheet structures. These peptides exhibit antimicrobial activity. Mutations in this gene cause h

Chromosome 1 is the largest human chromosome spanning about 260 million base pairs and making up 8% of the human genome. There are about 3,000 genes on chromosome 1, and considering the great number of genes there are also a large number of diseases associated with chromosome 1. Notably, the rare aging disease Hutchinson-Gilford progeria is associated with the LMNA gene which encodes lamin A. When defective, the LMNA gene product can build up in the nucleus and cause characteristic nuclear b