SRP72 (O76094) review notes

Identity and overview

SRP72 is the largest subunit of the mammalian signal recognition particle (SRP), a ribonucleoprotein composed of a 300-nt 7SL RNA and six proteins (SRP9, SRP14, SRP19, SRP54, SRP68, SRP72). SRP72 and SRP68 form a heterodimer that binds a regulatory site on the 7SL RNA and constitutes part of the S-domain.

[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "Component of a signal recognition particle (SRP) complex that consists of a 7SL RNA molecule of 300 nucleotides and six protein subunits: SRP72, SRP68, SRP54,"]

[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "Heterodimer with SRP68"]

Molecular function

• SRP72 is an RNA-binding scaffold subunit, NOT a GTPase (the GTPase activity of SRP resides in SRP54 and the SRP receptor).
• The N-terminal region (~9-163) contains TPR-like repeats and mediates the interaction with SRP68; the C-terminal region (RNA-binding, residues 545-617) binds the 7SL RNA 5e/5f loops.

[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "Within the SRP complex,\nCC interacts (via N-terminus) with SRP68 (via C-terminus)"]

[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "Binds the signal recognition particle RNA (7SL RNA) in presence of"]

• The SRP72 RNA-binding domain is "a flexible peptide crawling along the 5e- and 5f-loops of SRP RNA. A conserved tryptophan inserts into the 5e-loop forming a novel type of RNA kink-turn" PMID:27899666.
• RNA-binding residues mapped by mutagenesis (source PMID:21073748): e.g. 553-558 (KKKKKK->AAAAAA) "Loss of RNA binding"; W577-L578 "Loss of RNA binding" [file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "KKKKKK->AAAAAA: Loss of RNA binding."].
• SRP72-PBD is a tetratricopeptide repeat that binds an extended linear motif of SRP68 PMID:27899666. This TPR-mediated SRP68 binding is the experimental basis for the GO:0030911 "TPR domain binding" IPI annotation.

Cellular component / localization

• SRP72 acts within the cytosolic SRP and at the ER membrane during co-translational targeting.

[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm"]
[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "Endoplasmic reticulum {ECO:0000269|PubMed:22541560,"]

• ComplexPortal SRP complex: CPX-2652. Nucleolus / stress granule associations (CD-CODE) reflect SRP RNA assembly/trafficking; not core function.

Biological process

• Core process: SRP-dependent cotranslational protein targeting to the ER membrane.

[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "mediates the cotranslational targeting\nCC of secretory and membrane proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)"]

[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "The SRP complex targets the\nCC ribosome-nascent chain complex to the SRP receptor (SR), which is\nCC anchored in the ER, where SR compaction and GTPase rearrangement drive\nCC cotranslational protein translocation into the ER"]

• SRP72/68 binding remodels 7SL RNA into an SRP54 binding competent state PMID:17254600.

Disease

• Heterozygous SRP72 mutations cause autosomal-dominant bone marrow failure syndrome 1 (BMFS1; aplastic anemia / myelodysplasia). The BMFS1 variant R207H affects localization to the ER. This is a disease association, not a clean GO biological process.

PMID:22541560

[file:human/SRP72/SRP72-uniprot.txt "Bone marrow failure syndrome 1 (BMFS1)"]

Notes on specific references

• PMID:18089836 (TAS-103): abstract foregrounds SRP54 as the drug target, but the paper assays the intact SRP complex; the SRP72 IDA "signal recognition particle, ER targeting" CC annotation is valid for SRP72 as an SRP subunit. Do not REMOVE on subunit-naming grounds.
• PMID:24965446: pestivirus Npro interactome — SRP72 co-purified in an RNP/ribosome-associated complex (WITH/FROM is the Npro protease P19712-PRO). Bare protein binding, non-core.
• PMID:32296183 (HuRI; WITH/FROM SULT2B1 O00204), PMID:33961781 (BioPlex; SRP68 Q9UHB9), PMID:35271311 (OpenCell; SRP68 Q9UHB9): high-throughput interactome captures. Bare protein binding, non-core.
• PMID:16672232 IPI partner is SRP68 (Q9UHB9) — the physiological heterodimer partner; bare protein binding, kept non-core because GO:0005047 SRP binding captures the informative version.
• PMID:22658674, PMID:22681889: HeLa mRNA-interactome capture (HDA RNA binding); supports general RNA binding.

Core function summary

1. 7S/7SL RNA binding scaffold subunit of SRP (heterodimer with SRP68), enabling SRP assembly and ribosome interaction.
2. Structural/RNA-binding S-domain component participating in SRP-dependent cotranslational protein targeting to the ER membrane.
   

Falcon deep-research findings (incorporated 2026-06)

• GFP-SRP72 co-immunoprecipitates other SRP subunits and localizes to the nucleolus (periphery of the dense fibrillar component, PDFC) and to Cajal bodies; five SRP proteins including SRP72 assemble with 7SL RNA in the nucleolus before SRP54 joins in the cytoplasm [PMID:38858088 "an intact organelle is required for their proper localization"; "two SRP proteins in Cajal bodies"]. New localization/biogenesis evidence (nucleolar/CB phase) for SRP72; reference added (relevance HIGH).
• Alu-domain/S-domain inter-subunit contacts involving SRP72 are RNase-sensitive, confirming 7SL-RNA-mediated complex architecture PMID:38858088.
• SRP72 reinforced as a germline autosomal-dominant predisposition gene for MDS/aplastic anemia/bone-marrow failure (two families) PMID:30670445. Corroborates existing BMFS1/PMID:22541560 disease annotation; review reference added.
• Host-pathogen: Zika virus bypasses the SRP receptor via NS3-SRP54/translocon interactions and engages SRP machinery (incl. SRP72) during ER-translation remodeling PMID:39621795. Peripheral (relevance LOW).
• Non-canonical SRP role: under acute heat shock, 7SL RNA/SRP arrest transcription and translation independent of signal peptides; SRP binds ribosomes and inhibits new protein synthesis PMID:39952919. SRP72-specific contribution not isolated (relevance LOW).
• Quality-control framing: SRP-targeting failures couple to RAPP mRNA degradation, situating SRP as a proteostasis gatekeeper [PMID:37346176; PMID:37859801] — context noted, not added as SRP72-specific annotations.