Dnajc2 Dnaj Heat Shock Protein Family Member C2 is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Dnajc2 Dnaj Heat Shock Protein Family Member C2 is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
DNAJC2 (DnaJ Heat Shock Protein Family Member C2), also known as MPDZ (Multiple PDZ Domain Crumbs Cell Polarity Complex Component) or Zuotin, is a Hsp40 family co-chaperone involved in protein folding and quality control. It is encoded by the DNAJC2 gene located on chromosome 9p24. DNAJC2 plays important roles in maintaining cellular proteostasis, particularly in [neurons](/entities/neurons) where protein aggregation is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. [@dnajc2019]
<div class="infobox infobox-gene"> [@hsp2021]
<table> [@proteostasis2022]
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#f0f0f0;">DNAJC2</th></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Gene Symbol</strong></td><td>DNAJC2</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Full Name</strong></td><td>DnaJ Heat Shock Protein Family Member C2</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Chromosome</strong></td><td>9p24</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>NCBI Gene ID</strong></td><td>[27000](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/27000)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>OMIM</strong></td><td>[607071](https://www.omim.org/entry/607071)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Ensembl ID</strong></td><td>[ENSG00000137770](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000137770)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>UniProt ID</strong></td><td>[Q9Y2H5](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9Y2H5)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Protein Length</strong></td><td>640 amino acids</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">Als</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer</a>, <a href="/wiki/cancer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Cancer</a>, <a href="/wiki/dementia" style="color:#ef9a9a">Dementia</a>, <a href="/wiki/ms" style="color:#ef9a9a">Ms</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">30 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
DNAJC2 contains several functional domains:
| Domain | Position | Function |
|--------|----------|----------|
| J domain | N-terminal | Hsp70 ATPase stimulation |
| Gly/Phe-rich region | Central | Substrate binding |
| C-terminal domain | C-terminal | Dimerization, interactions |
| Multiple zinc fingers | Various | DNA/RNA/protein binding |
DNAJC2 functions as a co-chaperone:
In neurons, DNAJC2 participates in:
DNAJC2 is expressed in various brain regions:
| Brain Region | Expression Level |
|--------------|-----------------|
| Cerebral [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex) | High |
| [Hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus) | High |
| Cerebellum | Moderate |
| Basal ganglia | Moderate |
| Spinal cord | Lower |
In AD, DNAJC2 may be involved in:
| Model | Findings | Relevance |
|-------|----------|-----------|
| DNAJC2 knockout | Embryonic lethal in mice | Essential gene |
| Knockdown models | Altered stress response | PD research |
| Overexpression | Neuroprotection in models | Therapeutic potential |
| Approach | Mechanism | Development Stage |
|----------|-----------|-------------------|
| Hsp70/Hsp40 modulators | Enhance protein clearance | Research |
| Gene therapy | Increase DNAJC2 expression | Preclinical |
| Proteostasis enhancers | Boost cellular QC capacity | Research |
| Small molecule activators | Increase co-chaperone activity | Early research |
| Disease | Role | Evidence |
|---------|------|----------|
| Alzheimer's Disease | Protein quality control | Altered expression in AD brain |
| [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease) | α-Synuclein clearance | Protective in cellular models |
| ALS | Proteostasis | Dysregulated in ALS motor neurons |
| FTD | TDP-43 clearance | Part of PQC network |
The study of Dnajc2 Dnaj Heat Shock Protein Family Member C2 has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving DNAJC2 - DnaJ Heat Shock Protein Family Member C2 discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: