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Cumulus Cell
The cumulus oophorus, (discus proligerus), is a cluster of cells that surround the oocyte both in the ovarian follicle and after ovulation. In the antral follicle, it may be regarded as an extension of the membrana granulosa. The innermost layer of these cells is the corona radiata. This layer of cells must be penetrated by spermatozoa for fertilization to occur. Functions Functions of the cumulus oophorus include coordination of follicular development and oocyte maturation. Mechanisms of the latter include stimulation of amino acid transport and sterol biosynthesis and regulation of oocyte gene transcription. It also provides energy substrates for oocyte meiotic resumption and promotes glycolysis. Cumulus oophorus cells contribute heavily to the maturation and eventual fertilization of an oocyte. As a follicle grows in size and the antrum develops, more layers of cumulus oophorus cells accumulate around the oocyte to aid in the acrosome reaction and sperm penetration into ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ovarian Follicle
An ovarian follicle is a roughly spheroid cellular aggregation set found in the ovaries. It secretes hormones that influence stages of the menstrual cycle. At the time of puberty, women have approximately 200,000 to 300,000 follicles, each with the potential to release an egg cell (ovum) at ovulation for fertilization. These eggs are developed once every menstrual cycle with around 450–500 being ovulated during a woman's reproductive lifetime. Structure Ovarian follicles are the basic units of female reproductive biology. Each of them contains a single oocyte (immature ovum or egg cell). These structures are periodically initiated to grow and develop, culminating in ovulation of usually a single competent oocyte in humans. They also consist of granulosa cells and theca of follicle. Oocyte Once a month, one of the ovaries releases a mature egg (ovum), known as an oocyte. The nucleus of such an oocyte is called a ''germinal vesicle (see picture).'' Cumulus oophorus Cu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Expression Profiling
In the field of molecular biology, gene expression profiling is the measurement of the activity (the expression) of thousands of genes at once, to create a global picture of cellular function. These profiles can, for example, distinguish between cells that are actively dividing, or show how the cells react to a particular treatment. Many experiments of this sort measure an entire genome simultaneously, that is, every gene present in a particular cell. Several transcriptomics technologies can be used to generate the necessary data to analyse. DNA microarrays measure the relative activity of previously identified target genes. Sequence based techniques, like RNA-Seq, provide information on the sequences of genes in addition to their expression level. Background Expression profiling is a logical next step after sequencing a genome: the sequence tells us what the cell could possibly do, while the expression profile tells us what it is actually doing at a point in time. Genes con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, commonly referred to as StAR (STARD1), is a transport protein that regulates cholesterol transfer within the mitochondria, which is the rate-limiting step in the production of steroid hormones. It is primarily present in steroid-producing cells, including theca cells and luteal cells in the ovary, Leydig cells in the testis and cell types in the adrenal cortex. Function Cholesterol needs to be transferred from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner membrane where cytochrome P450scc enzyme (CYP11A1) cleaves the cholesterol side chain, which is the first enzymatic step in all steroid synthesis. The aqueous phase between these two membranes cannot be crossed by the lipophilic cholesterol, unless certain proteins assist in this process. A number of proteins have historically been proposed to facilitate this transfer including: sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2), steroidogenic activator polypeptide (SAP), peripheral benzodiazepine recep ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
TRIM28
Tripartite motif-containing 28 (TRIM28), also known as transcriptional intermediary factor 1β (TIF1β) and KAP1 (KRAB-associated protein-1), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TRIM28'' gene. Function The protein encoded by this gene mediates transcriptional control by interaction with the Krüppel-associated box repression domain found in many transcription factors. The protein localizes to the nucleus and is thought to associate with specific chromatin regions. The protein is a member of the tripartite motif family. This tripartite motif includes three zinc-binding domains, a RING, a B-box type 1 and a B-box type 2, and a coiled-coil region. KAP1 is a ubiquitously expressed protein involved in many critical functions including: transcriptional regulation, cellular differentiation and proliferation, DNA damage repair, viral suppression, and apoptosis. Its functionality is dependent upon post-translational modifications. Sumoylated TRIM28 can assemble epigenetic ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
CTNND1
p120, and called catenin delta-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CTNND1 gene. Function This gene encodes a member of the Armadillo protein family, which function in adhesion between cells and signal transduction. Multiple translation initiation codons and alternative splicing result in many different isoforms being translated. Not all of the full-length natures of the described transcript variants have been determined. Clinical significance Either loss or cytoplasmic localization of p120 is a common feature in the progression of several types of carcinoma. Interactions CTNND1 has been shown to interact with: * Beta-catenin, * CDH1, * CDH2, * Collagen, type XVII, alpha 1, * Cortactin, * FYN, * MUC1, * Nephrin, * PSEN1, * PTPN6, * PTPRJ, * PTPRM, * VE-cadherin, * YES1, and * ZBTB33 See also * Delta catenin * Catenin Catenins are a family of proteins found in complexes with cadherin cell adhesion molecules of animal cells. The f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
DHCR7
7-Dehydrocholesterol reductase, also known as DHCR7, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''DHCR7'' gene. Function The protein encoded by this gene is an enzyme catalyzing the production of cholesterol from 7-Dehydrocholesterol using NADPH. The DHCR7 gene encodes delta-7-sterol reductase (EC 1.3.1.21), the ultimate enzyme of mammalian sterol biosynthesis that converts 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) to cholesterol. This enzyme removes the C(7-8) double bond introduced by the sterol delta8-delta7 isomerases. In addition, its role in drug-induced malformations is known: inhibitors of the last step of cholesterol biosynthesis such as AY9944 and BM15766 severely impair brain development. Pathology A deficiency is associated with Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome. All house cats and dogs have higher-than-usual activity of this enzyme, causing an inability to synthesize vitamin D due to the lack of 7-dehydrocholesterol. Interactive pathway map See also * Steroidogeni ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
DVL3
Segment polarity protein dishevelled homolog DVL-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''DVL3'' gene. This gene is a member of a multi-gene family which shares strong similarity with the Drosophila dishevelled gene, dsh. The Drosophila dishevelled gene encodes a cytoplasmic phosphoprotein that regulates cell proliferation. Interactions DVL3 has been shown to interact with DAB2, DVL1 and PRPF3. See also * Dishevelled Dishevelled (Dsh) is a family of proteins involved in canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling pathways. Dsh (Dvl in mammals) is a cytoplasmic phosphoprotein that acts directly downstream of frizzled receptors. It takes its name from its initia ... References Further reading * * * * * * * * * * * * {{gene-3-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HSPB1
Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) also known as heat shock protein beta-1 (HSPB1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''HSPB1'' gene. Hsp27 is a chaperone of the sHsp (small heat shock protein) group among α-crystallin, Hsp20, and others. The common functions of sHsps are chaperone activity, thermotolerance, inhibition of apoptosis, regulation of cell development, and cell differentiation. They also take part in signal transduction. Structure sHsps have some structural features in common: Very characteristic is a homologous and highly conserved amino acid sequence, the so-called α-crystallin domain near the C-terminus. These domains consist of 80 to 100 residues with sequence homology between 20% and 60% and fold into β-sheets, which are important for the formation of stable dimers. Hsp27 is rather unique among sHsps in that its α-crystallin domain contains a cysteine residue at its dimer interface, which can become oxidized to form a disulfide bond that covalently lin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
GPX3
Glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx-3), also known as plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx-P) or extracellular glutathione peroxidase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''GPX3'' gene. GPx-3 belongs to the glutathione peroxidase family, which functions in the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide. It contains a selenocysteine Selenocysteine (symbol Sec or U, in older publications also as Se-Cys) is the 21st proteinogenic amino acid. Selenoproteins contain selenocysteine residues. Selenocysteine is an analogue of the more common cysteine with selenium in place of the s ... (Sec) residue at its active site. The selenocysteine is encoded by the UGA codon, which normally signals translation termination. The 3' UTR of Sec-containing genes have a common stem-loop structure, the sec insertion sequence (SECIS), which is necessary for the recognition of UGA as a Sec codon rather than as a stop signal. Thiol specificity GPx-3 has a wide thiol specificity. The sources of reducing power ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
CXCR4
C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR-4) also known as fusin or CD184 (cluster of differentiation 184) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CXCR4'' gene. The protein is a CXC chemokine receptor. Function CXCR-4 is an alpha-chemokine receptor specific for stromal-derived-factor-1 ( SDF-1 also called CXCL12), a molecule endowed with potent chemotactic activity for lymphocytes. CXCR4 is one of several chemokine co-receptors that HIV can use to infect CD4+ T cells. HIV isolates that use CXCR4 are traditionally known as T-cell tropic isolates. Typically, these viruses are found late in infection. It is unclear as to whether the emergence of CXCR4-using HIV is a consequence or a cause of immunodeficiency. CXCR4 is upregulated during the implantation window in natural and hormone replacement therapy cycles in the endometrium, producing, in presence of a human blastocyst, a surface polarization of the CXCR4 receptors suggesting that this receptor is implicated in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
CCND2
G1/S-specific cyclin-D2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CCND2'' gene. Function The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the highly conserved cyclin family, whose members are characterized by a dramatic periodicity in protein abundance through the cell cycle. Cyclins function as regulators of cyclin-dependent kinases. Different cyclins exhibit distinct expression and degradation patterns which contribute to the temporal coordination of each mitotic event. This cyclin forms a complex with and functions as a regulatory subunit of CDK4 or CDK6, whose activity is required for cell cycle G1/ S transition. This protein has been shown to interact with and be involved in the phosphorylation of tumor suppressor protein Rb. Knockout studies of the homologous gene in mouse suggest the essential roles of this gene in ovarian granulosa and germ cell proliferation. High level expression of this gene was observed in ovarian and testicular tumors A neoplasm () is a ty ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BDNF
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or abrineurin, is a protein found in the and the periphery. that, in humans, is encoded by the ''BDNF'' gene. BDNF is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, which are related to the canonical nerve growth factor (NGF), a family which also includes NT-3 and NT-4/NT-5. Neurotrophic factors are found in the brain and the periphery. BDNF was first isolated from a pig brain in 1982 by Yves-Alain Barde and Hans Thoenen. BDNF activates the TrkB tyrosine kinase receptor. Function BDNF acts on certain neurons of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system expressing TrkB, helping to support survival of existing neurons, and encouraging growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. In the brain it is active in the hippocampus, cortex, and basal forebrain—areas vital to learning, memory, and higher thinking. BDNF is also expressed in the retina, kidneys, prostate, motor neurons, and skeleta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
