Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS), also known as cyclooxygenase, is the key enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis, and acts both as a dioxygenase and as a peroxidase. There are two isozymes of PTGS: a constitutive PTGS1 and an inducible PTGS2, which differ in their regulation of expression and tissue distribution. This gene encodes the inducible isozyme. It is regulated by specific stimulatory events, suggesting that it is responsible for the prostanoid biosynthesis involved in infl

The X-ray repair cross-complementing protein XRCC4 and DNA Ligase IV are essential for repairing double-strand breaks in DNA. These proteins form a critical complex consisting of two molecules of each protein that preferentially bind DNA with nicks or broken ends. As an obligate accessory molecule, XRCC4 binds to DNA Ligase IV and enhances its joining activity. The XRCC4/ DNA Ligase IV complex is also involved in V(D)J recombination. V(D)J recombination occurs in normal development of the ada

This gene encodes the D1 subtype of the dopamine receptor. The D1 subtype is the most abundant dopamine receptor in the central nervous system. This G-protein coupled receptor stimulates adenylyl cyclase and activates cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases. D1 receptors regulate neuronal growth and development, mediate some behavioral responses, and modulate dopamine receptor D2-mediated events. Alternate transcription initiation sites result in two transcript variants of this gene. [provided

All eukaryotic cells express Actin, which often constitutes as much as 50% of total cellular protein. Actin filaments can form both stable and labile structures and are crucial components of microvilli and the contractile apparatus of muscle cells. While lower eukaryotes, such as yeast, have only one Actin gene, higher eukaryotes have several isoforms encoded by a family of genes. At least six types of Actin are present in mammalian tissues and fall into three classes. alpha-Actin expressio

This gene is a member of the NGF-beta family and encodes a secreted protein which homodimerizes and is incorporated into a larger complex. This protein has nerve growth stimulating activity and the complex is involved in the regulation of growth and the differentiation of sympathetic and certain sensory neurons. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 5 (HSAN5), and dysregulation of this gene's expression is associated with alle

This gene encodes one of the major intermediate filament proteins of mature astrocytes. It is used as a marker to distinguish astrocytes from other glial cells during development. Mutations in this gene cause Alexander disease, a rare disorder of astrocytes in the central nervous system. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2008]