Somatostatins are peptide hormones that regulate diverse cellular functions such as neurotransmission, cell proliferation, and endocrine signaling as well as inhibiting the release of many hormones and other secretory proteins. Somatostatin has two active forms of 14 and 28 amino acids. The biological effects of somatostatins are mediated by a family of G-protein coupled somatostatin receptors that are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the

Cellular signaling by G-proteins is down-regulated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), which increase the rate of GTP hydroylsis. The GTPase regulator associated with focal adhesion kinase (GRAF) has GAP activity toward Rho A and Cdc42, but not Rac1. GRAF is ubiquitously expressed with high levels in heart and brain. Expression of GRAF causes clearing of stress fibers and formation of long actin based filopodial-like extensions. Fusion of MLL with GRAF, MLL/GRAF, is included in a rare gene

CAPD2 is a regulatory subunit of the condensin complex, a complex required for conversion of interphase chromatin into mitotic-like condensed chromosomes. The condensin complex probably introduces positive supercoils into relaxed DNA in the presence of type I topoisomerases and converts nicked DNA into positive knotted forms in the presence of type II topoisomerases. It may target the condensin complex to DNA via its C-terminal domain (referenced from Swissprot).

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