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HERC6 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6
HERC6 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">HERC6 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td><strong>HERC6</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>12p13.31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene</td>
<td><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/55076" target="_blank">55076</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl</td>
<td><a href="https://ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000138650" target="_blank">ENSG00000138650</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td><a href="https://omim.org/entry/611236" target="_blank">611236</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8IWV1" target="_blank">Q8IWV1</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Family</td>
<td>HERC family (HECT and RLD domain containing)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>~470 kDa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Expression</td>
<td>Ubiquitous, high in immune tissues</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
HERC6 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">HERC6 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td><strong>HERC6</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>12p13.31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene</td>
<td><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/55076" target="_blank">55076</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl</td>
<td><a href="https://ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000138650" target="_blank">ENSG00000138650</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td><a href="https://omim.org/entry/611236" target="_blank">611236</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8IWV1" target="_blank">Q8IWV1</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Family</td>
<td>HERC family (HECT and RLD domain containing)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>~470 kDa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Expression</td>
<td>Ubiquitous, high in immune tissues</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
HERC6 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6
Overview
HERC6 (HECT and RCC1-like Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 6) is a large E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays critical roles in antiviral immunity, protein quality control, and cellular stress responses[@ouyang2021] [1][2]. As a member of the HERC family of proteins, HERC6 is characterized by an N-terminal RCC1-like domain (RLD) containing multiple RCC1 homology repeats and a C-terminal HECT domain that catalyzes ubiquitin transfer [3].
Originally identified as an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG), HERC6 functions both as a ubiquitin E3 ligase and as an ISG15-specific E3 ligase (ISGylation enzyme) [4]. These dual activities position HERC6 at the intersection of ubiquitin and ISG15-mediated protein modification pathways, with important implications for cellular homeostasis and disease pathogenesis.
Recent research has revealed that HERC6 plays important roles in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), where it contributes to protein aggregation, proteostasis dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and neuronal death [5][6]. The protein's functions in autophagy, mTOR signaling, and mitochondrial dynamics are particularly relevant to understanding its contribution to neurodegeneration.
Gene Structure and Protein Architecture
The HERC6 gene spans approximately 30 kb on chromosome 12p13.31 and consists of 57 coding exons. The protein product comprises 4,258 amino acids with a molecular weight of approximately 470 kDa, making it one of the largest E3 ligases in the human proteome [7]. The protein architecture consists of distinct functional domains:
RCC1-Like Domain (RLD)
The N-terminal RLD contains approximately 10 RCC1 (Regulator of Chromatin Condensation 1) homology repeats, each consisting of a seven-bladed β-propeller structure [1]. These repeats serve multiple functions:
HECT Domain
The C-terminal HECT domain (~350 aa) contains the catalytic activity of HERC6 [3]:
Linker Regions
The regions between the RLD and HECT domains contain:
Biological Functions
ISGylation (ISG15 Conjugation)
HERC6 is one of the major ISG15-specific E3 ligases in humans [4][8]. ISGylation is a post-translational modification analogous to ubiquitination but using the modifier ISG15 (Interferon-Stimulated Gene 15):
The functional consequences of ISGylation include:
- Antiviral defense: ISGylation of viral proteins can inhibit viral replication
- Signal modulation: ISGylation can enhance or inhibit signaling pathways
- Protein quality control: ISGylation can target misfolded or damaged proteins for degradation
Ubiquitination
Beyond ISGylation, HERC6 also functions as a conventional E3 ubiquitin ligase [9]:
Regulation of Interferon Signaling
As an interferon-stimulated gene, HERC6 is induced by type I (IFN-α/β) and type II (IFN-γ) interferons [10]:
Autophagy Regulation
HERC6 plays important roles in autophagy, a cellular degradation pathway critical for protein quality control [11][12]:
Mitochondrial Dynamics
HERC6 influences mitochondrial biology through multiple mechanisms [13]:
Role in Neurodegeneration
Alzheimer's Disease
Multiple lines of evidence connect HERC6 to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis [5][14]:
Tau pathology: HERC6 plays a role in tau phosphorylation and aggregation:
- HERC6 expression is altered in AD brains
- HERC6 can regulate kinases and phosphatases that control tau phosphorylation
- HERC6-mediated ISGylation may affect tau aggregation propensity
- HERC6 deficiency in mouse models leads to increased tau pathology
- HERC6 can modulate β- and γ-secretase activity
- ISGylation of BACE1 may affect amyloid production
- HERC6 deficiency exacerbates amyloid pathology in model systems
- HERC6 is expressed in synapses and regulates synaptic protein homeostasis
- HERC6 deficiency leads to impaired synaptic plasticity
- HERC6-mediated autophagy regulates synaptic vesicle recycling
- HERC6 is induced by inflammatory cytokines in microglia
- HERC6 regulates cytokine production and secretion
- HERC6 deficiency increases neuroinflammatory responses
Parkinson's Disease
HERC6 plays particularly important roles in Parkinson's disease through effects on α-synuclein and dopaminergic neuron survival [6][15]:
α-Synuclein aggregation: HERC6 regulates α-synuclein pathology:
- HERC6 can ISGylate α-synuclein, affecting its aggregation
- HERC6 deficiency promotes α-synuclein oligomerization
- HERC6-mediated autophagy regulates α-synuclein clearance
- HERC6 expression is altered in PD brains and patient-derived cells
- HERC6 regulates PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy
- HERC6 deficiency exacerbates complex I deficiency
- HERC6 modulates ROS production and oxidative stress
- HERC6 expression is neuroprotective in cell culture models
- HERC6 deficiency increases vulnerability to toxic insults
- HERC6-based therapies show promise in PD models
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
HERC6 has been implicated in ALS through protein quality control mechanisms [9]:
Aging
HERC6 plays important roles in aging and age-related cellular decline [16][17]:
Signaling Pathways
mTOR Signaling
HERC6 regulates mTORC1 activity through multiple mechanisms [11][18]:
Interferon Signaling
HERC6 is both regulated by and regulates interferon signaling [10][19]:
Autophagy Pathways
HERC6 interacts with core autophagy machinery [11][12]:
Apoptotic Pathways
HERC6 modulates apoptosis through several mechanisms [13]:
Therapeutic Implications
Small Molecule Modulators
Developing HERC6-targeted small molecules represents a potential therapeutic approach [20]:
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy approaches include:
Combination Therapies
HERC6-targeted approaches may be combined with:
Research Tools and Resources
Mouse Models
Several models exist for studying HERC6:
Antibodies and Reagents
Available reagents include:
Differential Expression in Disease
| Condition | HERC6 Expression Change | Tissue/Cell Type |
|-----------|-------------------------|------------------|
| Alzheimer's disease | Increased in early stages, decreased later | Brain |
| Parkinson's disease | Decreased in substantia nigra | Brain |
| ALS | Decreased in spinal cord | Spinal cord |
| Aging | Decreased with age | Multiple tissues |
| Viral infection | Strongly induced | Multiple tissues |
Related Proteins and Pathways
- [ISG15](/proteins/isf15) — ISG15 modifier conjugated by HERC6
- [HERC5](/genes/herc5) — Another ISG15 E3 ligase
- [UBE2L6](/genes/ube2l6) — E2 enzyme for ISGylation
- [UBQLN2](/proteins/ubqln2) — Autophagy receptor in neurodegeneration
- [SQSTM1](/proteins/sqstm1) — P62, autophagy receptor
- [MAPT](/genes/mapt) — Tau protein in AD
Related Conditions
- [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimer-disease)
- [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinson-disease)
- [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis)
External Links
- [NCBI Gene](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/55076)
- [UniProt](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8IWV1)
- [Ensembl](https://ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000138650)
- [OMIM](https://omim.org/entry/611236)
- [GeneCards](https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=HERC6)
- [HGNC](https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:28275)
References
▸Metadataorigin_type: v1_polymorphic_backfill
| slug | genes-herc6 |
| kg_node_id | HERC6 |
| entity_type | gene |
| origin_type | v1_polymorphic_backfill |
| source_table | wiki_pages |
| wiki_page_id | wp-8971ef4166df |
| __merged_from | {'merged_at': '2026-05-13', 'unprefixed_id': 'genes-herc6'} |
| _schema_version | 1 |
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