Metastasis of a primary tumor to a distant site is determined through signaling cascades that break down interactions between the cell and extracellular matrix proteins. Among the proteins mediating metastasis are serine prote-ases, such as neutrophil elastase.SCCA is transcribed by two nearly identical genes (SCCA1 and SCCA2), and is mainly produced as SCCA1. The human SCCA1 gene encodes a 390 amino acid protein that was originally isolated from a metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Mammalian mitochondrial ribosomal proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and help in protein synthesis within the mitochondrion. Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) consist of a small 28S subunit and a large 39S subunit. They have an estimated 75% protein to rRNA composition compared to prokaryotic ribosomes, where this ratio is reversed. Another difference between mammalian mitoribosomes and prokaryotic ribosomes is that the latter contain a 5S rRNA. Among different species, the proteins

HLA-DRB4 belongs to the HLA class II beta chain paralogues. This class II molecule is a heterodimer consisting of an alpha (DRA) and a beta (DRB) chain, both anchored in the membrane. It plays a central role in the immune system by presenting peptides derived from extracellular proteins. Class II molecules are expressed in antigen presenting cells (APC: B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages). The beta chain is approximately 26-28 kDa and its gene contains 6 exons. Exon one encodes the l

Themis is a 641 amino acid nuclear and cytoplasmic protein that exists as three alternatively spliced isoforms. Themis belongs to the themis family and interacts with PLC γ1, Emt and GRB2. Acting through T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling and through the regulation of calcium influx and phosphorylation of ERK 1, Themis plays a central role in late thymocyte development by controlling both positive and negative T-cell selection. Themis is phosphorylated on Tyr residues quickly after

QKI is a 341 amino acid protein that localizes to both the cytoplasm and the nucleus and contains one KH domain. Expressed in the frontal cortex of the brain, QKI functions as an RNA-binding protein that plays an important role in myelinization and specifically binds to the RNA core sequence 5'-NACUAAY-N(1,20)-UAAY-3'. Additionally, QKI regulates pre-mRNA splicing, and mRNA export and is involved in protecting and promoting the stability of select mRNAs. QKI may be methylated by PRMT1