Analyses of Molecular Assembly and Diversity of Proteasomes

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The proteasome is an unusually large cellular apparatus that selectively degrades unnecessary proteins, which must be eliminated from the cells. We defined the molecular mechanisms underling proteasome assembly by the findings of a set of proteasome-dedicated molecular chaperones that assist the correct formation of the proteasome. In addition, we established the new concept on the diversity of the proteasome. Previously, we discovered the "immunoproteasome", which emphasized the specialized functions in immune responses. Lately, we also identified another unique "thymoproteasome", which is expressed exclusively in the thymus. We found that thymoproteasome-deficient mice displayed defective thymic development of CD8+T cells, suggesting a key role for thymoproteasome in the development of the MHC class I-restricted CD8+T cell repertoire during thymic positive selection.