KEAP1

Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1

PDB rendering based on 1u6d.
Identifiers
Symbols KEAP1; INrf2; KIAA0132; KLHL19; MGC10630; MGC1114; MGC20887; MGC4407; MGC9454
External IDs OMIM606016 MGI1858732 HomoloGene8184 GeneCards: KEAP1 Gene
RNA expression pattern
More reference expression data
Orthologs
Species Human Mouse
Entrez 9817 50868
Ensembl ENSG00000079999 ENSMUSG00000003308
UniProt Q14145 O89076
RefSeq (mRNA) NM_012289.3 NM_016679
RefSeq (protein) NP_036421.2 NP_057888
Location (UCSC) Chr 19:
10.6 – 10.61 Mb
Chr 9:
21.03 – 21.04 Mb
PubMed search [1] [2]

Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the Keap1 gene.[1]

Contents

Structure

Keap1 has four discrete protein domains. The Broad complex, Tramtrack and Bric-à-Brac (BTB) domain contains the Cys151 residue, which is important in stress sensing. The intervening region (IVR) domain contains two critical cysteine residues, Cys272 and Cys288, which are important for the repression of Nrf2 activity. A double glycine repeat (DGR) and C-terminal region (CTR) domains collaborate to form a β-propeller structure, which is where Keap1 interacts with Nrf2.

Interactions

Keap1 has been shown to interact with Nrf2, a master regulator of the antioxidant response, which is important for the amelioration of oxidative stress.[2][3][4]

Under quiescent conditions, Nrf2 is anchored in the cytoplasm through binding to Keap1, which, in turn, facilitates the ubiquitination and subsequent proteolysis of Nrf2. Such sequestration and further degradation of Nrf2 in the cytoplasm are mechanisms for the repressive effects of Keap1 on Nrf2.

Keap1 as a Drug Target

Because Nrf2 activation leads to a coordinated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory response, and Keap1 represses Nrf2 activation, Keap1 has become a very attractive drug target.

A series of synthetic oleane triterpenoid compounds, known as antioxidant inflammation modulators (AIMs), are being developed by Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and are potent inducers of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, blocking Keap1-dependent Nrf2 ubiquitination and leading to the stabilization and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and subsequent induction of Nrf2 target genes.) The lead compound in this series, bardoxolone methyl (also known as CDDO-Me or RTA 402), is currently in late-stage clinical trials for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and has been shown to improve markers of renal function in these patients.)

References

Further reading