CBX7 (Chromobox 7) is a component of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1), a key epigenetic regulator that maintains gene silencing through histone modification. CBX7 specifically recognizes H3K27me3 marks deposited by PRC2 through its chromodomain and contributes to transcriptional repression of developmental genes through chromatin compaction. Dysregulation of CBX7 has been implicated in cancer, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases. [1]
CBX7 protein is a member of the Chromobox (CBX) family of proteins that serve as the H3K27me3 "readers" of PRC1. Unlike other CBX proteins, CBX7 shows unique expression patterns and has been implicated in both transcriptional repression and activation depending on context. In the nervous system, CBX7 regulates genes involved in neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and inflammatory responses. [2]
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Protein Name | CBX7 (Chromobox 7) |
| Gene | CBX7 |
| UniProt ID | O95931 |
| PDB ID | 4F7L, 5U58 |
| Molecular Weight | 25 kDa |
| Subcellular Localization | Nucleus (chromatin-associated, Polycomb bodies) |
| Protein Family | CBX family, PRC1 |
| Aliases | CBX7, Chromobox protein homolog 7, PC3 |
CBX7 protein contains two functional domains:
The chromodomain adopts a structure typical of methyl-lysine readers, forming a hydrophobic aromatic cage that specifically recognizes the trimethylated lysine.
CBX7 in the nervous system:
CBX7 dysregulation in AD:
CBX7 involvement in PD:
CBX7 has context-dependent roles:
Hu et al. BRG1 in neurodegeneration, J Neurosci (2020). 2020. ↩︎
D'Alessio et al. CBX7 in aging and cancer, Aging Cell (2018). 2018. ↩︎