protein
Signal recognition particle receptor subunit alpha
aka SR-alpha
Gene
SRPRA
Organism
Homo sapiens(9606)
Length
638 aa
Mass
69,811 Da
SRPRA (signal recognition particle receptor subunit alpha, also known as SR-alpha) is a 638-amino-acid component of the signal recognition particle receptor complex (UniProt: P08240). It functions as a guanosine triphosphate-dependent binding partner for SRP54, facilitating the recognition and targeting of nascent secretory proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane during translation (UniProt: P08240).
SRPRA operates within the broader signal recognition particle machinery, which directs cotranslational protein translocation. Its activity is essential for proper secretory pathway routing and involves GTPase-mediated conformational changes that enable protein translocation into the ER lumen (UniProt: P08240). The protein is widely expressed across human tissues supporting protein secretion.
SRPRA is classified as SFARI Category 1 (SFARI Cat 1), indicating a high-confidence autism spectrum disorder risk gene. This classification suggests evidence of de novo or inherited mutations in autism cases, though specific mechanistic links to neurodevelopmental phenotypes remain to be fully characterized.
Generated from the curated entity record below. May contain errors — verify against source links.
Proteomics Evidence · AD
↓ Down in ADP3
-0.411
P2
not detected
S2
not detected
S3
not detected
Mean log₂FC across detected fractions: -0.4112 (1 of 4 fractions detected)
Human post-mortem AD brain vs age-matched controls, TMT-labeled, 4 subcellular fractions (P2, P3, S2, S3), DDA proteomics.
Genetic Evidence · ASD
High confidence — strong genetic evidence from multiple studies
Source: SFARI Gene database · gene.sfari.org
This protein is implicated in both ASD and Alzheimer's Disease. View all cross-disease proteins →
Related Publications
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Dujardin Simon et al.Nature medicine2020PMID 32572268Deep Multilayer Brain Proteomics Identifies Molecular Networks in Alzheimer's Disease Progression.
Bai Bing et al.Neuron2020PMID 31926610A Multi-network Approach Identifies Protein-Specific Co-expression in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease.
Seyfried Nicholas T et al.Cell systems2017PMID 27989508Large-scale deep multi-layer analysis of Alzheimer's disease brain reveals strong proteomic disease-related changes not observed at the RNA level.
Johnson Erik C B et al.Nature neuroscience2022PMID 35115731Organization and regulation of gene transcription.
Cramer PatrickNature2019PMID 31462772Inherited and De Novo Genetic Risk for Autism Impacts Shared Networks.
Ruzzo Elizabeth K et al.Cell2019PMID 31398340Inherited and multiple de novo mutations in autism/developmental delay risk genes suggest a multifactorial model.
Guo Hui et al.Molecular autism2018PMID 30564305Whole genome sequencing resource identifies 18 new candidate genes for autism spectrum disorder.
C Yuen Ryan K et al.Nature neuroscience2017PMID 28263302Identification of common genetic risk variants for autism spectrum disorder.
Grove Jakob et al.Nature genetics2019PMID 30804558Synaptic, transcriptional and chromatin genes disrupted in autism.
De Rubeis Silvia et al.Nature2014PMID 25363760
Function
Component of the signal recognition particle (SRP) complex receptor (SR) (PubMed:16439358). Ensures, in conjunction with the SRP complex, the correct targeting of the nascent secretory proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane system (PubMed:16675701, PubMed:34020957). Forms a guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-dependent complex with the SRP subunit SRP54 (PubMed:34020957). SRP receptor compaction and GTPase rearrangement drive SRP-mediated cotranslational protein translocation into the ER (PubMed:34020957)
Sources
Last updated 5/8/2026, 1:12:51 AM