PSMA3

Proteasome subunit alpha type-3 also known as macropain subunit C8 and proteasome component C8 is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the PSMA3 is_associated_with::gene. This protein is one of the 17 essential subunits (alpha subunits 1-7, constitutive beta subunits 1-7, and inducible subunits including beta1i, beta2i, beta5i) that contributes to the complete assembly of 20S proteasome complex.

Function
The eukaryotic proteasome recognized degradable proteins, including damaged proteins for protein quality control purpose or key regulatory protein components for dynamic biological processes. An essential function of a modified proteasome, the immunoproteasome, is the processing of is_associated_with::class I MHC peptides. As a component of alpha ring, proteasome subunit alpha type-3 contributes to the formation of heptameric alpha rings and substrate entrance gate.

Structure
The human protein proteasome subunit alpha type-3 is 28 kDa in size and composed of 254 amino acids. The calculated theoretical pI of this protein is 5.19.

Complex assembly
The is_associated_with::proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with a highly ordered 20S core structure. This barrel-shaped core structure is composed of 4 axially stacked rings of 28 non-identical subunits: the two end rings are each formed by 7 alpha subunits, and the two central rings are each formed by 7 beta subunits. Three beta subunits (beta1, beta2, and beta5) each contains a is_associated_with::proteolytic active site and has distinct substrate preferences. Proteasomes are distributed throughout eukaryotic cells at a high concentration and cleave peptides in an ATP/is_associated_with::ubiquitin-dependent process in a non-lysosomal pathway.

Mechanism
Crystal structures of isolated 20S proteasome complex demonstrate that the two rings of beta subunits form a is_associated_with::proteolytic chamber and maintain all their active sites of proteolysis within the chamber. Concomitantly, the rings of alpha subunits form the entrance for substrates entering the proteolytic chamber. In an inactivated 20S proteasome complex, the gate into the internal proteolytic chamber are guarded by the is_associated_with::N-terminal tails of specific alpha-subunit. The proteolytic capacity of 20S core particle (CP) can be activated when CP associates with one or two regulatory particles (RP) on one or both side of alpha rings. These regulatory particles include 19S proteasome complexes, 11S proteasome complex, etc. Following the CP-RP association, the confirmation of certain alpha subunits will change and consequently cause the opening of substrate entrance gate. Besides RPs, the 20S proteasomes can also be effectively activated by other mild chemical treatments, such as exposure to low levels of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) or NP-14.

Clinical significance
The Proteasome and its subunits are of clinical significance for at least two reasons: (1) a compromised complex assembly or a dysfunctional proteasome can be associated with the underlying pathophysiology of specific diseases, and (2) they can be exploited as drug targets for therapeutic interventions. More recently, more effort has been made to consider the proteasome for the development of novel diagnostic markers and strategies. An improved and comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of the proteasome should lead to clinical applications in the future.

The proteasomes form a pivotal component for the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) and corresponding cellular Protein Quality Control (PQC). Protein is_associated_with::ubiquitination and subsequent is_associated_with::proteolysis and degradation by the proteasome are important mechanisms in the regulation of the is_associated_with::cell cycle, is_associated_with::cell growth and differentiation, gene transcription, signal transduction and is_associated_with::apoptosis. Subsequently, a compromised proteasome complex assembly and function lead to reduced proteolytic activities and the accumulation of damaged or misfolded protein species. Such protein accumulation may contribute to the pathogenesis and phenotypic characteristics in neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases,   inflammatory responses and autoimmune diseases,  and systemic DNA damage responses leading to is_associated_with::malignancies.

Several experimental and clinical studies have indicated that aberrations and deregulations of the UPS contribute to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative and myodegenerative disorders, including is_associated_with::Alzheimer's disease, is_associated_with::Parkinson's disease and is_associated_with::Pick's disease, is_associated_with::Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (is_associated_with::ALS), is_associated_with::Huntington's disease, is_associated_with::Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, and motor neuron diseases, polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases, is_associated_with::Muscular dystrophies and several rare forms of neurodegenerative diseases associated with is_associated_with::dementia. As part of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS), the proteasome maintains cardiac protein homeostasis and thus plays a significant role in cardiac is_associated_with::Ischemic injury, is_associated_with::ventricular hypertrophy and is_associated_with::Heart failure. Additionally, evidence is accumulating that the UPS plays an essential role in malignant transformation. UPS proteolysis plays a major role in responses of cancer cells to stimulatory signals that are critical for the development of cancer. Accordingly, gene expression by degradation of is_associated_with::transcription factors, such as is_associated_with::p53, is_associated_with::c-Jun, is_associated_with::c-Fos, is_associated_with::NF-κB, is_associated_with::c-Myc, HIF-1α, MATα2, is_associated_with::STAT3, sterol-regulated element-binding proteins and is_associated_with::androgen receptors are all controlled by the UPS and thus involved in the development of various malignancies. Moreover, the UPS regulates the degradation of tumor suppressor gene products such as is_associated_with::adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) in colorectal cancer, is_associated_with::retinoblastoma (Rb). and is_associated_with::von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL), as well as a number of is_associated_with::proto-oncogenes (is_associated_with::Raf, is_associated_with::Myc, Myb, Rel, Src, Mos, Abl).The UPS is also involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses. This activity is usually attributed to the role of proteasomes in the activation of NF-κB which further regulates the expression of pro inflammatory is_associated_with::cytokines such as is_associated_with::TNF-α, IL-β, IL-8, is_associated_with::adhesion molecules (is_associated_with::ICAM-1, is_associated_with::VCAM-1, P selectine) and is_associated_with::prostaglandins and is_associated_with::nitric oxide (NO). Additionally, the UPS also plays a role in inflammatory responses as regulators of leukocyte proliferation, mainly through proteolysis of cyclines and the degradation of CDK inhibitors. Lastly, is_associated_with::autoimmune disease patients with SLE, is_associated_with::Sjogren's syndrome and is_associated_with::rheumatoid arthritis (RA) predominantly exhibit circulating proteasomes which can be applied as clinical biomarkers.

A role of the proteasome subunit alpha type-3 has been linked in underlying mechanisms of human malignancies. It has been suggested that is_associated_with::Cables1 as a novel is_associated_with::p21 regulator through maintaining p21 stability and supporting the model that the tumor-suppressive function of Cables1 occurs at least in part through enhancing the tumor-suppressive activity of p21.In this process, Cables 1 mechanistically interferes the proteasome subunit alpha type-3 (PMSA3) hereby binding to p21 to induce cell death and inhibit cell proliferation.

Interactions
PSMA3 has been shown to interact with
 * is_associated_with::CRYAB,
 * is_associated_with::PLK1,
 * is_associated_with::PSMA6, and
 * is_associated_with::Zif268.