ERK

By Emily Cartwright, PhD

By Christina Towers, PhD

By Beth Melson, MS

By Yoskaly Lazo-Fernandez, PhD

NFkB is a transcription factor that plays a role in the expression of genes involved in immune response, inflammation, metastasis, cell survival and more. RelA (p65) is one member of the NFkB mammalian family, alongside other subunits.

CD90 is a 25-35kD glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked glycoprotein receptor of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. It is found on murine T-cells, thymocytes, neuronal cells, granulocytic lineage-derived cells, hematopoietic stem cells, fibroblasts, neurons, and Kupffer's cells. CD90 is often used as a marker for a variety of stem cells and mature neuronal axon processes.  CD90 appears to play a role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and adhesion during synaptogenesis, nerve regeneration, apoptosis and necrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and metastasis.

ITGB1BP2 is a muscle-specific protein cloned by a rat created by Branccio's group in Italy that was found to interact with the cytoplasmic domain of integrin beta 1¹. It is expressed only in heart and skeletal muscle but is not essential for normal development and differentiation of these tissues. Branccio's group published a follow-up study in Nature Medicine using an ITGB1BP2 antibody that the protein plays a critical role in sensing mechanical stress due to pressure overloading².

The enzyme, aromatase, belongs to cytochrome P450 family of monooxygenases known for their key role in drug catabolism and cholesterol/steroid synthesis. Aromatase uses a heme-group as a co-factor to catalyze the formation of aromatic C18 estrogens from C19 androgens. This conversion includes that of testosterone into estradiol as well as androstenedione to estrone. Aromatase is a peripheral membrane protein.

Cells undergo apoptotic programmed cell death in response to various stimuli. The process is required for morphogenesis, tissue homeostasis, and host defense. Certain cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Fas ligand signal through death domain-containing receptors such as tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and Fas.