Alpha crystallin domain (ACD) found in mammalian small heat shock protein (sHsp) HspB7, also known as cardiovascular small heat shock protein (cvHsp), and similar proteins. sHsps 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 25-kDa protein, preferentially expressed in heart and skeletal muscle. It binds the cytoskeleton protein alpha-filamin (also known as actin-binding protein 280). The expression of HspB7 is increased during rat muscle aging. Its expression is also modulated in obesity implicating this protein in this and related metabolic disorders. As the human gene encoding HspB7 is mapped to chromosome 1p36.23-p34.3 it is a positional candidate for several dystrophies and myopathies.
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",