The proteasome is a multi-subunit complex responsible for intracellular protein degradation. Key catalytic subunits include:
PSMB7 and PSMB8 are critical for antigen processing and immune responses. PSMB7 is constitutively expressed, while PSMB8 replaces it in immunoproteasomes under inflammatory conditions .
Role in Cancer: Elevated PSMB7 expression correlates with poor prognosis in breast and colon cancers. Its upregulation enhances proteolytic activity, promoting tumor survival .
Structural Features: Antibodies like Cell Signaling #12197 detect both precursor and mature forms of PSMB7, aiding studies on proteasome assembly .
Autoimmune Diseases: PSMB8 is overexpressed in autoimmune disorders. Antibodies like Bio-Techne’s 1B3 (H00005696-M01) enable detection in paraffin-embedded tissues .
Cancer Immunotherapy: PSMB8 inhibition disrupts antigen presentation, synergizing with checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., anti-PD-1) in preclinical models .
Western Blot: Anti-PSMB8 (1B3) detects a 29.8 kDa band in transfected 293T cells .
Immunohistochemistry: PSMB7 antibodies show distinct staining in colon adenocarcinoma tissues .
Cross-reactivity with homologous subunits (e.g., PSMB10 in immunoproteasomes) requires rigorous validation .
Combination Therapies: PSMB8-targeting antibodies enhance efficacy of CTLA-4/PD-1 blockade by modulating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes .
Biomarker Potential: PSMB7 expression levels may guide prognosis in breast cancer .
KEGG: ath:ArthCp016
STRING: 3702.ATCG00220.1