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Pentraxins
Pentraxins (PTX), also known as pentaxins, are an evolutionary conserved family of proteins characterised by containing a pentraxin protein domain. Proteins of the pentraxin family are involved in acute immunological responses. They are a class of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). They are a superfamily of multifunctional conserved proteins, some of which are components of the humoral arm of innate immunity and behave as functional ancestors of antibodies (Abs). They are known as classical acute phase proteins (APP), known for over a century. Structure Pentraxins are characterised by calcium dependent ligand binding and a distinctive flattened β-jellyroll structure similar to that of the legume lectins. The name "pentraxin" is derived from the Greek word for five (penta) and axle (axis) relating to the radial symmetry of five monomers forming a ring approximately 95Å across and 35Å deep observed in the first members of this family to be identified. The "short" pentra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
PTX3
Pentraxin-related protein PTX3 also known as TNF-inducible gene 14 protein (TSG-14) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''PTX3'' gene. Pentraxin 3 (ptx3) is a member of the pentraxin superfamily. This super family characterized by cyclic multimeric structure. PTX3 is rapidly produced and released by several cell types, in particular by mononuclear phagocytes, dendritic cells (DCs), fibroblasts and endothelial cells in response to primary inflammatory signals [e.g., toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement, TNFα, Interleukin 1, IL-1β]. PTX3 binds with high affinity to the complement component C1Q complex, C1q, the extracellular matrix component TNFα induced protein 6 (TNFAIP6; also called TNF-stimulated gene 6, TSG-6) and selected microorganisms, including ''Aspergillus fumigatus'' and ''Pseudomonas aeruginosa''. PTX3 activates the classical complement pathway, classical pathway of complement activation and facilitates pathogen recognition by macrophages and DCs. Structure ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Serum Amyloid P Component
The serum amyloid P component (SAP) is the identical serum form of amyloid P component (AP), a 25kDa pentameric protein first identified as the pentagonal constituent of in vivo pathological deposits called "amyloid". APCS is its human gene. In amyloidosis AP makes up 14% of the dry mass of amyloid deposits and is thought to be an important contributor to the pathogenesis of a related group of diseases called the Amyloidoses. These conditions are characterised by the ordered aggregation of normal globular proteins and peptides into insoluble fibres which disrupt tissue architecture and are associated with cell death. AP is thought to decorate and stabilise aggregates by preventing proteolytic cleavage and hence inhibiting fibril removal via the normal protein scavenging mechanisms. This association is utilised in the routine clinical diagnostic technique of SAP scintigraphy whereby radio-labelled protein is injected into patients to locate areas of amyloid deposition. The SAP-a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
NPTX2
Neuronal pentraxin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NPTX2'' gene. Function This gene encodes a member of the family of neuronal pentraxins, synaptic proteins that are related to C-reactive protein. This protein is involved in excitatory synapse formation. It also plays a role in clustering of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors at established synapses, resulting in non-apoptotic cell death of dopaminergic nerve cells. Clinical significance Up-regulation of this gene in Parkinson disease Parkinson may refer to: *Parkinson (surname) * ''Parkinson'' (TV series), British chat show, presented by Sir Michael Parkinson *Parkinson, Queensland, suburb of Brisbane, Australia *The Parkinsons (fl. early 20th century), American father-and-son ... (PD) tissues suggests that the protein may be involved in the pathology of PD References Further reading * * * * * * * * * {{gene-7-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
NPTX1
Neuronal pentraxin-1 (NP1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NPTX1'' gene. Function NPTX1 is a member of the neuronal pentraxin Pentraxins (PTX), also known as pentaxins, are an evolutionary conserved family of proteins characterised by containing a pentraxin protein domain. Proteins of the pentraxin family are involved in acute immunological responses. They are a clas ... gene family. Neuronal pentraxin 1 is similar to the rat NP1 gene which encodes a binding protein for the snake venom toxin taipoxin. Human NPTX1 mRNA is exclusively localized to the nervous system. References Further reading * * * * * * * * {{gene-17-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
C-reactive Protein
C-reactive protein (CRP) is an annular (ring-shaped) pentameric protein found in blood plasma, whose circulating concentrations rise in response to inflammation. It is an acute-phase protein of hepatic origin that increases following interleukin-6 secretion by macrophages and T cells. Its physiological role is to bind to lysophosphatidylcholine expressed on the surface of dead or dying cells (and some types of bacteria) in order to activate the complement system via C1q. CRP is synthesized by the liver in response to factors released by macrophages and fat cells (adipocytes). It is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins. It is not related to C-peptide (insulin) or protein C (blood coagulation). C-reactive protein was the first pattern recognition receptor (PRR) to be identified. History Discovered by Tillett and Francis in 1930, it was initially thought that CRP might be a pathogenic secretion since it was elevated in a variety of illnesses, including cancer. The later ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
NPTXR
Neuronal pentraxin receptor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NPTXR'' gene. This gene encodes a protein similar to the rat neuronal pentraxin receptor. The rat protein pentraxin is thought to mediate neuronal uptake of synaptic material and the presynaptic snake venom toxin, taipoxin. Studies in rat indicate that translation of this mRNA initiates at a non-AUG (CUG) codon. This may also be true for human and mouse, based on strong sequence conservation amongst these species. See also *NPTX2 Neuronal pentraxin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NPTX2'' gene. Function This gene encodes a member of the family of neuronal pentraxins, synaptic proteins that are related to C-reactive protein. This protein is involved in e ..., Neuronal pentraxin II References Further reading * * * * * * * {{refend ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
C Reactive Protein
C-reactive protein (CRP) is an annular (ring-shaped) pentameric protein found in blood plasma, whose circulating concentrations rise in response to inflammation. It is an acute-phase protein of hepatic origin that increases following interleukin-6 secretion by macrophages and T cells. Its physiological role is to bind to lysophosphatidylcholine expressed on the surface of dead or dying cells (and some types of bacteria) in order to activate the complement system via C1q. CRP is synthesized by the liver in response to factors released by macrophages and fat cells (adipocytes). It is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins. It is not related to C-peptide (insulin) or protein C (blood coagulation). C-reactive protein was the first pattern recognition receptor (PRR) to be identified. History Discovered by Tillett and Francis in 1930, it was initially thought that CRP might be a pathogenic secretion since it was elevated in a variety of illnesses, including cancer. The later di ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mesocricetus Auratus
The golden hamster or Syrian hamster (''Mesocricetus auratus'') is a rodent belonging to the hamster subfamily, Cricetinae. Their natural geographical range is in an arid region of northern Syria and southern Turkey. Their numbers have been declining in the wild due to a loss of habitat from agriculture and deliberate elimination by humans. Thus, wild golden hamsters are now considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, captive breeding programs are well-established, and captive-bred golden hamsters are often kept as small house pets. Syrian hamsters are larger than many of the dwarf hamsters kept as pocket pets (up to five times larger), and weigh about the same as a sugar glider, though the wild European hamster exceeds Syrian hamsters in size. They are also used as scientific research animals throughout the world. Characteristics The size of adult animals is around long, with a lifespan of 2–3 years. Body mass is usually in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Protein Families
A protein family is a group of evolutionarily related proteins. In many cases, a protein family has a corresponding gene family, in which each gene encodes a corresponding protein with a 1:1 relationship. The term "protein family" should not be confused with family as it is used in taxonomy. Proteins in a family descend from a common ancestor and typically have similar three-dimensional structures, functions, and significant sequence similarity. The most important of these is sequence similarity (usually amino-acid sequence), since it is the strictest indicator of homology and therefore the clearest indicator of common ancestry. A fairly well developed framework exists for evaluating the significance of similarity between a group of sequences using sequence alignment methods. Proteins that do not share a common ancestor are very unlikely to show statistically significant sequence similarity, making sequence alignment a powerful tool for identifying the members of protein familie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
GPR144
Probable G-protein coupled receptor 144 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''GPR144'' gene. This gene encodes a member of the adhesion-GPCR family of receptors. Family members are characterised by an extended extracellular region with a variable number of protein domains coupled to a TM7 domain via a domain known as the GPCR-Autoproteolysis INducing (GAIN Gain or GAIN may refer to: Science and technology * Gain (electronics), an electronics and signal processing term * Antenna gain * Gain (laser), the amplification involved in laser emission * Gain (projection screens) * Information gain in de ...) domain. References Further reading * * * G protein-coupled receptors {{transmembranereceptor-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cavia Porcellus
The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (''Cavia porcellus''), also known as the cavy or domestic cavy (), is a species of rodent belonging to the genus ''Cavia'' in the family Caviidae. Breeders tend to use the word ''cavy'' to describe the animal, while in scientific and laboratory contexts, it is far more commonly referred to by the common name ''guinea pig''. Despite their common name, guinea pigs are not native to Guinea, nor are they closely related biologically to pigs, and the origin of the name is still unclear. They originated in the Andes of South America. Studies based on biochemistry and hybridization suggest they are domesticated animals that do not exist naturally in the wild, descendants of a closely related cavy species such as '' C. tschudii''. They were originally domesticated as livestock for a source of meat, and are still consumed in some parts of the world. In Western society, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a pet since its introduction ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
