X-Nico

unusual facts about proteins



Alanna Schepartz

Her research has contributed to three different areas of chemical biology: protein-DNA recognition and transcriptional activation; the development of miniature proteins that bind specifically and with high affinity to protein and DNA; and the development of β-peptides as protein ligands and as building blocks of protein-like architectures.

ATP7A

The protein normally resides in a cell structure called the Golgi apparatus, which modifies and transports newly produced enzymes and other proteins.

Attenuated total reflectance

Water-soluble proteins to be investigated require Polyhistidine-tags, allowing the macromolecule to be anchored to a lipid bilayer, which is attached to a Germanium crystal or other suitable optical media.

BAG2

All the BAG proteins have an approximately 45-amino acid BAG domain near the C terminus but differ markedly in their N-terminal regions.

C3orf58

Experiments in a rat neuronal cell culture model suggested that this gene may be regulated directly or indirectly by MEF2 site binding proteins.

Carboxypeptidase A

CPA3 (also known as mast-cell CPA) is involved in the digestion of proteins by mast cells.

CFC domain

In molecular biology, the CFC domain (Cripto Frl-1 Cryptic domain) is a protein domain found at the C-terminus of a number of proteins including Cripto (or teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor).

Collagen, type XXIII, alpha 1

The functions of collagen XXIII are still unknown, although it is believed that they could be similar to other transmembrane proteins, such as collagen XIII.

CTBP2

Accordingly, CtBPs have been found to be important in fat biology, binding to key proteins such as PRDM16, NRIP, and FOG2.

Cyclic di-GMP

Many proteins with GGDEF, EAL or HD-GYP domains are found with other domains that can receive signals, such as PAS domains.

Dymeclin protein family

In molecular biology, the Dymeclin protein family is a family of proteins which includes human Dymeclin.

Electron-transferring flavoprotein

ETFs are heterodimeric proteins composed of an alpha and beta subunit (ETFA and ETFB), and contain an FAD cofactor and AMP.

Genetic history of the British Isles

An international watershed in the publication and discussion of genetic evidence for ancient movements of people was that of Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza who used polymorphisms from proteins found within human blood (such as the ABO blood groups, Rhesus blood antigens, HLA loci, immunoglobulins, G-6-P-D isoenzymes, amongst others).

Glutathione-ascorbate cycle

The reduction of dehydroascorbate may be non-enzymatic or catalysed by proteins with dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activity, such as glutathione S-transferase omega 1 or glutaredoxins.

Guanylate-binding protein

These GTPases are classified into three groups: the small 47-KD immunity-related GTPases (IRGs), the Mx proteins (MX1, MX2), and the large 65- to 67-kd GTPases.

H2B

Histone H2B, one of 5 main histone proteins involved in the structure of chromatin in eukaryotic cells

Huntingtin-associated protein 1

This gene encodes a protein that interacts with huntingtin, with two cytoskeletal proteins (dynactin and pericentriolar autoantigen protein 1), and with a hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (HGS).

IFIT proteins

These proteins differ from each other in having different number of tetratricopeptide repeats(TPRs).

IFIT proteins (Interferon Induced proteins with Tetratricopeptide repeats) are produced in human body that are supposed to confer immunity against viral infection.

Jean-Pierre Lecocq

Under his leadership secretory and non-secretory expression systems for the production of recombinant proteins in E. coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Baculovirus and mammalian cells in cell culture were developed and recombinant virus technology was established.

Latex allergy

Products made from guayule natural rubber emulsions also do not contain the proteins from the Hevea rubber tree, and do not cause allergy in persons sensitized to Hevea proteins.

Magnetic tweezers

Most commonly magnetic tweezers are used to study mechanical properties of biological macromolecules like DNA or proteins in single-molecule experiments.

Mark Griep

Griep studies the proteins that synthesize DNA, namely primase and DnaB helicase.

MATH domain

The MATH domain, in molecular biology, is a binding domain that was defined originally by a region of homology between otherwise functionally unrelated domains, the intracellular TRAF-C domains of TRAF proteins and a C-terminal region of extracellular meprins A and B.

MECP2

Human proteins MECP2 (this protein), MBD1, MBD2, MBD3, and MBD4 comprise a family of nuclear proteins related by the presence in each of a methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD).

Moringa drouhardii

Neither the seeds (rich in edible oil and floculating proteins) nor the leaves (that can be eaten as green vegetables) are traditionally used in the Atsimo-Andrefana Region (southwestern Madagascar) despite their significant benefits.

Motor protein

Shin'ichi Ishiwata, a scientist who specializes in the study of the chemistry and mechanics of muscles and motor proteins

NLRP10

NLRP8 reduces inflammatory and innate immune responses by inhibiting the activity of two proteins associated with the inflammasome; caspase-1 and PYCARD.

NRF1

Nrf1, together with Nrf2, mediates the biogenomic coordination between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes by directly regulating the expression of several nuclear-encoded ETC proteins, and indirectly regulating the three mitochondrial-encoded COX subunit genes by activating mtTFA, mtTFB1, and mtTFB2.

Ocean pout

In June 2006 the Unilever company announced that it would use genetically modified yeast to grow antifreeze proteins based on a gene from the ocean pout, and use it to improve the consistency and storage properties of its ice cream brands.

Osteocyte

Osteocyte specific proteins such as sclerostin have been shown to function in mineral metabolism, as well as other molecules such as PHEX, DMP-1, MEPE, and FGF-23, which are highly expressed by osteocytes and regulate phosphate and biomineralization.

P53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis

When the inhibition of these is lifted, they result in the translocation of Bax and activation of mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in release of mitochondrial apoptogenic proteins cytochrome c, SMAC, and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) leading to caspase activation and cell death.

Paramyxoviridae

HN (Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase) attachment proteins occur in respiroviruses, rubulaviruses and avulaviruses.

Peroxisomal targeting signal

PEX5 interacts with a large number of other proteins, including Pex8p, 10p, 12p, 13p, 14p.

Phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate

In T-cells, two “downstream of tyrosine kinase” proteins DOK1 and DOK2 are proposed as PtdIns5P-binding proteins and effectors.

Photolyase

Proteins containing this domain also include Arabidopsis thaliana cryptochromes 1 and 2, which are blue light photoreceptors that mediate blue light-induced gene expression and modulation of circadian rhythms.

PIN domain

In eukaryotes PIN domains are found in proteins involved in nonsense mediated mRNA decay, in proteins such as SMG5 and SMG6, and in processing of 18S ribosomal RNA.

Prenylation

Farnesyltransferase and Geranylgeranyltransferase I are very similar proteins.

Protein losing enteropathy

Causes of protein losing enteropathy include celiac disease, Crohn's disease, short bowel syndrome (where the absorptive area for proteins is decreased), intestinal lymphangiectasia, amyloidosis, enteropathy caused by NSAIDs, Ménétrier's disease, dyskeratosis congenita, IPEX and giardiasis.

Protein turnover

Cytoplasmic complexes, called proteasomes, digest older or abnormal proteins that have been tagged with ubiquitin for destruction.

Race and genetics

In 1972, Richard Lewontin performed a FST statistical analysis using 17 markers (including blood-group proteins).

Ribophorin

Consequently, defects in the genes that encode these proteins may cause congenital disorders and devastating consequences; ribophorin I and II are encoded by the genes RPN1 and RPN2 respectively.

Secretomics

Bovine contaminants present a particular challenge because the protein sequences of many bovine extracellular proteins, like fibronectin and fibulin-1, are similar to the human protein sequences.

Selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist

These target genes encode proteins such as cyclooxygenase, NO synthase, phospholipase A2, tumor necrosis factor, transforming growth factor beta, ICAM-1, and a number of other pro-inflammatory proteins.

Shugoshin N terminal protein domain

Shugoshin protein is thought to act by protecting two proteins, named Rec8 and Rad21 at the centromeres from protein degradation by the enzyme, separase.

SMCR7L

The SMCR7L gene codes for a protein that has been called MiD51/MIEF1 and shown to regulate mitochondrial fission by interacting with the proteins Drp1 and FIS1.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic hedgehog, a biological term referring to one of three proteins in the mammalian signaling pathway family called hedgehog

TAL effector

TAL (transcription activator-like) effectors (often referred to as TALEs but not to be confused with the three amino acid loop extension family of proteins) are proteins secreted by Xanthomonas bacteria via their type III secretion system when they infect various plant species.

Trichloroacetic acid

It is widely used in biochemistry for the precipitation of macromolecules, such as proteins, DNA, and RNA.

Vroman effect

The Vroman effect, named after Leo Vroman, is exhibited by protein adsorption to a surface by blood serum proteins.


see also