DNAJC21 (DnaJ Heat Shock Protein Family Member C21), also known as GCUNC45A, is a co-chaperone protein involved in DNA replication stress response and protein homeostasis. It plays essential roles in ribosomal biogenesis and has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases through its involvement in protein quality control and stress response pathways[1].
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Gene Symbol | DNAJC21 |
| Gene Name | DnaJ Heat Shock Protein Family Member C21 |
| Aliases | GCUNC45A |
| Chromosomal Location | 5p13.2 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 27092 |
| UniProt ID | Q5T8M8 |
| Gene Type | Protein Coding |
DNAJC21 features characteristic DNAJ family domains:
The protein lacks a transmembrane domain but contains nuclear localization signals[2].
DNAJC21 performs several essential cellular functions:
DNAJC21 is crucial for ribosome assembly:
The protein responds to replication stress:
As a co-chaperone:
Controls protein synthesis:
DNAJC21 is expressed in:
In neurons, DNAJC21 may be particularly important for:
DNAJC21 contributes to neurodegeneration through several mechanisms:
Cellular stress pathways are crucial for neuronal survival:
Ribosomal function is essential for protein homeostasis:
Quality control mechanisms are critical:
| Disease | Evidence Level | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Bone Marrow Failure | Confirmed | Ribosomal dysfunction |
| Neurodegeneration | Moderate | Stress response |
| Cancer | Confirmed | Cell proliferation |
DNAJC21 interacts with several proteins:
| Protein | Interaction | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Hsp70 | Chaperone | Protein folding |
| Ribosomal proteins | Assembly | Ribosome function |
| Replication factors | Stress response | DNA replication |
DNAJC21 represents a therapeutic target:
Tummala H et al. DNAJC21 mutations cause bone marrow failure syndrome. 2015. ↩︎
Gautam AK et al. The Hsp40 family of proteins: structure and function. 2020. ↩︎