26S protease regulatory subunit 7, also known as 26S proteasome AAA-ATPase subunit Rpt1, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PSMC2 gene This protein is one of the 19 essential subunits of a complete assembled 19S proteasome complex. Six 26S proteasome AAA-ATPase subunits (Rpt1 (this protein), Rpt2, Rpt3, Rpt4, Rpt5, and Rpt6) together with four non-ATPase subunits (Rpn1, Rpn2, Rpn10, and Rpn13) form the base sub complex of 19S regulatory particle for proteasome complex.
The gene PSMC2 encodes one of the ATPase subunits, a member of the triple-A family of ATPases which have a chaperone-like activity. This subunit has been shown to interact with several of the basal transcription factors so, in addition to participation in proteasome functions, this subunit may participate in the regulation of transcription. This subunit may also compete with PSMC3 for binding to the HIV tat protein to regulate the interaction between the viral protein and the transcription complex. The human PSMC2 gene has 13 exons and locates at chromosome band 7q22.1-q22.3.