ABCG2 is a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. Among ABC transporters ABCG2 is particularly interesting for its potential role in protecting cancer stem cells and its complex oligomeric structure (1).
An important aspect of mitochondria maintenance includes biogenesis to replenish damaged and degraded mitochondrial structures. The regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis is very complex and numerous genes regulate and synchronize protein synthesis from the mitochondrial and nuclear genome.
O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a sugar attachment to serine or threonine hydroxyl moieties on nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. O-GlcNAc modified proteins are generally either cytoplasmic or nuclear proteins, and unlike asparagine-linked or mucin-type O-glycosylation, O-GlcNAc is not further processed into a complex oligosaccharide.
Inositol Requiring Enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1 alpha) is a transmembrane-RNase with an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) luminal sensor domain and cytosolic kinase and ribonuclease domains. IRE1 also plays a central role in the ER stress response (1).
Adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADFP) is found on the surface of lipid droplets in most mammalian cell types. In mammals, lipid droplets are most abundant in adipose tissue, where stored triacylglycerol (TAG) provides the primary energy reserve for the organism. Lipid droplets in steroidogenic cells contain cholesteryl esters used in the synthesis of steroid hormones. Most other mammalian cells contain smaller lipid droplets, whose function remains unclear.
The protein encoded by mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), also known as dTOR in Drosophila, belongs to a family of phosphatidylinositol kinase-related kinases. These kinases regulate fundamental processes of cell growth, proliferation, metabolism
Adiponectin is most well-known for its role in glucose metabolism and fatty acid breakdown. Adiponectin is secreted solely by adipose tissue, and a person with a higher percentage of body fat will express lower levels of Adiponectin. When higher levels of Adiponectin are present, a mouse will show a lack of adipocyte differentiation and a measurable increase in energy expenditure.
The neuropeptide and gut hormone Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone (GH)-secretagogue receptor (GHSR) within the central nervous system. This pathway has received a great deal of attention and heavy study within the last decade because of its large role in numerous physiological processes including feeding and body weight homeostasis (1, 2). In particular, Ghrelin is a key regulator of reward-based eating behavior (2, 3).
Sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) is a transcription factor that regulates cholesterol homeostasis by controlling enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis and uptake, e.g. HMG-CoA.
