Proteasome Subunit Alpha Type 7 (PSMa7)

The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with a highly ordered ring-shaped 20S core structure. PSMA7 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. 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.