PSMA7

Proteasome subunit alpha type-7 also known as 20S proteasome subunit alpha-4 is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the PSMA7 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-7 contributes to the formation of heptameric alpha rings and substrate entrance gate. Importantly, this subunit plays an critical role in the assembly of 19S base and 20S. This particular subunit has been shown to interact specifically with the hepatitis B virus X protein, a protein critical to viral replication. In addition, this subunit is involved in regulating hepatitis virus C internal ribosome entry site (IRES) activity, an activity essential for viral replication. This core alpha subunit is also involved in regulating the hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, a transcription factor important for cellular responses to oxygen tension. Recent study on underlying mechanisms of E3 ligase Parkin-related neurodegeneration identified this proteasome subunit as one of Parkin associating partner. The protein-protein interaction was initiated between the C-terminal domain of Parkin and C-terminal of subunit alpha4 (systematic nomenclature).

Expression
The gene PSMA7 encodes a member of the peptidase T1A family, that is a 20S core alpha subunit. This gene has 7 exons and locates at a chromosome band 20q13.33. Multiple isoforms of this subunit arising from alternative splicing may exist but alternative transcripts for only two isoforms have been defined. A pseudogene has been identified on chromosome 9.

The human protein Proteasome subunit alpha type-7 is 28 kDa in size and composed of 248 amino acids. The calculated theoretical pI (is_associated_with::Isoelectric point) of this protein is 8.60.

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 proteolytic active site and has distinct substrate preferences. Proteasomes are distributed throughout eukaryotic cells at a high concentration and cleave peptides in an ATP/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 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 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.

Reports have shown that the proteasome subunit alpha type-7 (PSMA7) is overexpressed in is_associated_with::colorectal cancer and associated with its hepatic is_associated_with::metastasis. It was further reported that PSMA7 is associated with nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (is_associated_with::NOD1) as a negative regulator and may promote tumor growth by its inhibitory role on NOD1.

Interactions
PSMA7 has been shown to interact with is_associated_with::HIF1A and is_associated_with::PLK1.