This protein is expressed largely in cells possessing a regulated secretory pathway, such as endocrine/neuroendocrine cells and neurons. The intact proSAAS protein, as well as the carboxyy-terminal peptide containing the inhibitory hexapeptide LLRVKR, functions as an inhibitor of prohormone convertase 1/3, which accomplishes the initial proteolytic cleavage of peptide precursors. ProSAAS is further processed at the N- and C-termini into multiple short peptides, leaving the central segment intact. This central, unprocessed portion of the protein may function as a neural- and endocrine-specific chaperone due to its potent ability to block the aggregation of beta amyloid and alpha synuclein in vitro, and to block oligomer cytotoxicity in cells.[6][7] Recent data show that nigral proSAAS expression blocks the deterioration of the striatonigral pathway in a synuclein rat model of Parkinson's disease.[8] ProSAAS also oligomerizes and undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation.[9]
Differential expression of this gene may be associated with obesity.
Wada M, Ren CH, Koyama S, Arawaka S, Kawakatsu S, Kimura H, Nagasawa H, Kawanami T, Kurita K, Daimon M, Hirano A, Kato T (2004). "A human granin-like neuroendocrine peptide precursor (proSAAS) immunoreactivity in tau inclusions of Alzheimer's disease and parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam". Neurosci. Lett. 356 (1): 49–52. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2003.11.028. PMID14746899. S2CID46034652.
