HSPB8

The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the superfamily of small heat-shock proteins containing a conservative alpha-crystallin domain at the C-terminal part of the molecule. The expression of this gene in induced by estrogen in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells, and this protein also functions as a chaperone in association with Bag3, a stimulator of macroautophagy. Thus, this gene appears to be involved in regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis, and mutations in this gene have been associated with different neuromuscular diseases, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Heat Shock Protein Family B (Small) Member 8

Displays temperature-dependent chaperone activity.

Cellular response to unfolded protein Source: ARUK-UCL
Positive regulation of aggrephagy Source: ARUK-UCL

Cytoplasm; Nucleus. Translocates to nuclear foci during heat shock.

Neuronopathy, distal hereditary motor, 2A (HMN2A):
A neuromuscular disorder. Distal hereditary motor neuronopathies constitute a heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders caused by selective degeneration of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord, without sensory deficit in the posterior horn. The overall clinical picture consists of a classical distal muscular atrophy syndrome in the legs without clinical sensory loss. The disease starts with weakness and wasting of distal muscles of the anterior tibial and peroneal compartments of the legs. Later on, weakness and atrophy may expand to the proximal muscles of the lower limbs and/or to the distal upper limbs.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2L (CMT2L):
An axonal form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a disorder of the peripheral nervous system, characterized by progressive weakness and atrophy, initially of the peroneal muscles and later of the distal muscles of the arms. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is classified in two main groups on the basis of electrophysiologic properties and histopathology: primary peripheral demyelinating neuropathies (designated CMT1 when they are dominantly inherited) and primary peripheral axonal neuropathies (CMT2). Neuropathies of the CMT2 group are characterized by signs of axonal degeneration in the absence of obvious myelin alterations, normal or slightly reduced nerve conduction velocities, and progressive distal muscle weakness and atrophy.