S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7 (S100A7)

S100 calcium binding protein A7 is a member of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 proteins are localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a wide range of cells, and involved in the regulation of a number of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100 genes include at least 13 members which are located as a cluster on chromosome 1q21.

This protein differs from the other S100 proteins of known structure in its lack of calcium binding ability in one EF-hand at the N-terminus. This protein is markedly over-expressed in the skin lesions of psoriatic patients, but is excluded as a candidate gene for familial psoriasis susceptibility. The protein functions as a prominent antimicrobial peptide mainly against E. coli.