This entry represents the alpha crystallin domain (ACD) found in mammalian small heat shock protein (sHsp) HspB7, also known as cardiovascular small heat shock protein (cvHsp).Small Hsps are molecular chaperones that suppress protein aggregation and protect against cell stress, and are generally active as large oligomers consisting of multiple subunits []. HspB7 is a 25kDa protein, preferentially expressed in heart and skeletal muscle []. It is essential for fetal heart development by modulating actin filament assembly []. It binds the cytoskeleton protein alpha-filamin (also known as actin-binding protein 280) []. The expression of HspB7 is increased during rat muscle aging []. As the human gene encoding HspB7 is mapped to chromosome 1p36.23-p34.3 it is a positional candidate for several dystrophies and myopathies [].
