Regulation of Life & Death by REGγ

REG gamma, a proteasome activator belonging to the 11S (otherwise known as REG, PA28, or PSME) proteasome activator family, is widely present in many eukaryotes. By binding to the 20S catalytic core particle, REG gamma acts as a molecular sieve to selectively target proteins for degradation in an ATP- and ubiquitin-independent manner. This non-canonical proteasome pathway directly regulates seemingly unrelated cellular processes including cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage response, immune response, and metabolism. By affecting different pathways, REG gamma plays a vital role in the regulation of cellular life and death through the maintenance of protein homeostasis. As a promoter of cellular growth and a key regulator of several tumor suppressors, many recent studies have linked REG gamma overexpression with tumor formation and suggested the REG gamma-proteasome as a potential target of new cancer-drug development. This review will present an overview of the major functions of REG gamma as it relates to the regulation of cellular life and death, along with new mechanistic insights into the regulation of REG gamma.