Details for: HSPB7

Gene ID: 27129

Gene Type:  Protein-coding  - A gene that serves as a template for producing a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which is then translated into a functional protein.

Symbol: HSPB7

Ensembl ID: ENSG00000173641

Description: heat shock protein family B (small) member 7

Cell Significance Landscape

Associated with

Significant Cells

Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores for the chosen context(s)

  • cardiac muscle cell CL0000746
    CSI 18.06
    rCSI 25.92%
    PRS 87.56
  • ventricular cardiac muscle cell CL2000046
    CSI 9.7
    rCSI 33.21%
    PRS 94.63
  • tracheobronchial smooth muscle cell CL0019019
    CSI 9.36
    rCSI 16.5%
    PRS 95.81
  • regular atrial cardiac myocyte CL0002129
    CSI 7.08
    rCSI 22.79%
    PRS 90.85
  • enteric smooth muscle cell CL0002504
    CSI 5.58
    rCSI 7.96%
    PRS 93.92
  • adipocyte CL0000136
    CSI 5.06
    rCSI 6.5%
    PRS 87.45
  • cardiac endothelial cell CL0010008
    CSI 4.13
    rCSI 16.67%
    PRS 94.54
  • endocardial cell CL0002350
    CSI 3.91
    rCSI 18.71%
    PRS 91.26
  • epicardial adipocyte CL1000309
    CSI 3.59
    rCSI 11.69%
    PRS 91.78
  • Schwann cell CL0002573
    CSI 3.58
    rCSI 10.19%
    PRS 91.12
  • smooth muscle cell CL0000192
    CSI 3.19
    rCSI 7.61%
    PRS 89.28
  • basal cell of epidermis CL0002187
    CSI 2.59
    rCSI 4.59%
    PRS 68.87
  • regular ventricular cardiac myocyte CL0002131
    CSI 2.46
    rCSI 15.33%
    PRS 88.94
  • muscle cell CL0000187
    CSI 2.36
    rCSI 4.85%
    PRS 95.21
  • fibroblast of cardiac tissue CL0002548
    CSI 2.25
    rCSI 10.78%
    PRS 94.77
  • fast muscle cell CL0000190
    CSI 2.09
    rCSI 8.18%
    PRS 87.85
  • slow muscle cell CL0000189
    CSI 2.03
    rCSI 27.09%
    PRS 86.69
  • bronchiolar smooth muscle cell CL4033017
    CSI 1.96
    rCSI 29.48%
    PRS 96.72
  • smooth muscle cell of the pulmonary artery CL0002591
    CSI 1.76
    rCSI 13.47%
    PRS 94.62
  • kidney loop of Henle thin ascending limb epithelial cell CL1001107
    CSI 1.64
    rCSI 4.23%
    PRS 92.26
  • microcirculation associated smooth muscle cell CL0008035
    CSI 1.52
    rCSI 4.41%
    PRS 93.36
  • blood vessel smooth muscle cell CL0019018
    CSI 1.09
    rCSI 8.85%
    PRS 92.73
  • suprabasal keratinocyte CL4033013
    CSI 0.83
    rCSI 1.35%
    PRS 69.22

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this specific cell.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.
Network Configuration

Explore relationships of the current gene. Select an Interaction Source: 'ONTOLOGY' for shared pathways (GO/Reactome) or 'STRING' for protein-protein interactions. Further refine by selecting context genes and comparing Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores between baseline and target cell types and their specific contexts.

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Legend:
  • Query Gene
  • Node Color (Target Cell CSI, relative to current network):
    • Very High
    • High
    • Medium
    • Low
    • Very Low
    • CSI N/A
  • Node Size: Proportional to Target Cell CSI magnitude
  • STRING PPI Edge
  • Shared Pathway Edge (ONTOLOGY)

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Other Information

This section provides additional information about the gene, including a description generated by an AI language model and details about associated proteins.

## Summary [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129), or Heat Shock Protein Family B (Small) Member 7, is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 1p36.13. As a member of the small heat shock protein family, [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) is implicated in the cellular response to stress, particularly in preventing the aggregation of unfolded proteins. Expression data reveals a highly specific enrichment in contractile tissues, with its most significant expression observed in [cardiac muscle cell](/details-cell/CL0000746)s and various types of smooth muscle cells. This tissue-specific profile is consistent with its annotated functions in heart development, regulation of heart contraction, and association with the actin cytoskeleton. Initial studies identified it as a novel stress protein selectively expressed in cardiovascular and insulin-sensitive tissues ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.274.51.36592)). ## Cellular Roles and Expression Landscape The expression pattern of [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) highlights its specialized role in mechanically active and contractile cell types. **Overall**, the gene shows the highest significance in cells of the cardiovascular system. It is a dominant marker for [cardiac muscle cell](/details-cell/CL0000746) (CSI: 18.06), with substantial significance in more specific subtypes like [ventricular cardiac muscle cell](/details-cell/CL2000046) (CSI: 9.70) and [regular atrial cardiac myocyte](/details-cell/CL0002129) (CSI: 7.08). Beyond the heart, [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) is also a key marker for smooth muscle tissues, including [tracheobronchial smooth muscle cell](/details-cell/CL0019019) (CSI: 9.36) and [enteric smooth muscle cell](/details-cell/CL0002504) (CSI: 5.58). This suggests a conserved function in maintaining cellular integrity and function in tissues subjected to constant mechanical force. Its expression is also notable in [adipocyte](/details-cell/CL0000136)s and [Schwann cell](/details-cell/CL0002573)s, indicating a broader role in metabolically active or structurally important cells. The specificity of [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) to these lineages is underscored by its comparatively low significance in most immune, epithelial, and neuronal cell types. ## Pathways and Molecular Function The functions of [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) are tightly linked to its role as a molecular chaperone and cytoskeletal-interacting protein. Gene Ontology annotations confirm its involvement in the [response to unfolded protein](/details-go/GO:0006986), a canonical function of heat shock proteins. Its profound expression in heart tissue is directly supported by its role in biological processes such as [heart development](/details-go/GO:0007507) and the [regulation of heart contraction](/details-go/GO:0008016). At the molecular level, [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) is known to engage in [protein binding](/details-go/GO:0005515), including a specific interaction with filamin ([filamin binding](/details-go/GO:0031005)). This is consistent with its primary localization to the [cytoplasm](/details-go/GO:0005737) and its association with the [actin cytoskeleton](/details-go/GO:0015629), where it likely contributes to structural stability. Additionally, studies have identified [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) within the [nucleus](/details-go/GO:0005634), specifically in subnuclear structures like the [Cajal body](/details-go/GO:0015030), suggesting it may also participate in nuclear protein quality control or RNA metabolism ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2009.05.005)). ## Research Directions The highly specific expression of [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) in cardiac and smooth muscle cells, combined with its function as a stress-response protein, positions it as a critical factor in cardiovascular health and disease. Its role appears to be primarily protective, helping to maintain cellular homeostasis under physiological and pathological stress. Based on the available data, several testable hypotheses can be proposed: 1. [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) is essential for maintaining sarcomeric integrity and preventing protein aggregation in cardiomyocytes during ischemic or mechanical stress, and its downregulation contributes to the pathology of stress-induced cardiomyopathy. 2. The nuclear localization of [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) in [cardiac muscle cell](/details-cell/CL0000746)s is crucial for a specialized nuclear stress response that protects long-lived, terminally differentiated cells from proteotoxic damage. To test the first hypothesis, a key experiment would involve the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout of [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) could be performed in these cells. The knockout and wild-type hiPSC-CMs would then be subjected to simulated ischemia-reperfusion injury (e.g., hypoxia followed by reoxygenation). The impact on cell viability, sarcomere structure (assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy for alpha-actinin), protein aggregation (measured by proteomics and filter trap assays), and contractile function could then be quantified to determine the protein's protective role. Given its likely function in protecting cells from stress-induced damage, [HSPB7](/details-gene/27129) is a compelling therapeutic target. The therapeutic strategy would focus on **activation or enhancement** of its function or expression. Small molecules that could stabilize the protein or upregulate its transcription could offer a cardioprotective benefit in the context of myocardial infarction, heart failure, or certain genetic cardiomyopathies. Its intracellular location makes it unsuitable for antibody-based therapies but an ideal candidate for small molecule drug discovery.

Genular Protein ID: 2907665282

Symbol: HSPB7_HUMAN

Name: Heat shock protein beta-7

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

Q9UBY9 B3KQ37 C9K0Y0 Q9NU17

Database IDs:

AGR 1 AlphaFoldDB 1 Antibodypedia 1 Bgee 1 BioGRID 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 BioMuta 1 CCDS 2 CDD 1 CTD 1 ChiTaRS 1 DNASU 1 DisGeNET 1 EMBL 7 Ensembl 2 ExpressionAtlas 1 GO 10 Gene3D 1 GeneCards 1 GeneTree 1 GenomeRNAi 1 HGNC 1 HOGENOM 1 HPA 1 InParanoid 1 IntAct 1 InterPro 4 KEGG 1 MANE-Select 1 MIM 1 MassIVE 1 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OMA 1 OpenTargets 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PRINTS 1 PRO 1 PROSITE 1 PathwayCommons 1 PaxDb 1 PeptideAtlas 1 Pfam 1 PharmGKB 1 Pharos 1 PhosphoSitePlus 1 PhylomeDB 1 Proteomes 1 ProteomicsDB 3 RNAct 1 RefSeq 1 SMR 1 STRING 1 SUPFAM 1 SignaLink 1 TreeFam 1 UCSC 1 VEuPathDB 1 eggNOG 1 iPTMnet 1 jPOST 1 neXtProt 1

Citations:

PubMed ID: 10593960

Title: Identification and characterization of cvHsp. A novel human small stress protein selectively expressed in cardiovascular and insulin-sensitive tissues.

PubMed ID: 10593960

DOI: 10.1074/jbc.274.51.36592

PubMed ID: 14702039

Title: Complete sequencing and characterization of 21,243 full-length human cDNAs.

PubMed ID: 14702039

DOI: 10.1038/ng1285

PubMed ID: 17974005

Title: The full-ORF clone resource of the German cDNA consortium.

PubMed ID: 17974005

DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-8-399

PubMed ID: 16710414

Title: The DNA sequence and biological annotation of human chromosome 1.

PubMed ID: 16710414

DOI: 10.1038/nature04727

PubMed ID: 15489334

Title: The status, quality, and expansion of the NIH full-length cDNA project: the Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC).

PubMed ID: 15489334

DOI: 10.1101/gr.2596504

PubMed ID: 19464326

Title: HSPB7 is a SC35 speckle resident small heat shock protein.

PubMed ID: 19464326

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2009.05.005

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 170
  • Mass: 18611
  • Checksum: 0A6F47931AE67B3E
  • Sequence:
    • MSHRTSSTFR AERSFHSSSS SSSSSTSSSA SRALPAQDPP MEKALSMFSD DFGSFMRPHS 
EPLAFPARPG GAGNIKTLGD AYEFAVDVRD FSPEDIIVTT SNNHIEVRAE KLAADGTVMN 
TFAHKCQLPE DVDPTSVTSA LREDGSLTIR ARRHPHTEHV QQTFRTEIKI