PNKD is the abbreviation for a human neurological movement disorder paroxysmal nonkinesiogenic dyskinesia. Like many other human genetics disorders, PNKD also refers to the disease, the disease gene and the encoded protein. (PNKD) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PNKD gene. [5] [6] Alternative splicing results in the transcription of three isoforms. The mouse ortholog is called brain protein 17 (Brp17).
This gene is located on chromosome 2 at the band 2q35 and contains 12 exons. [6] At least three isoforms of varying lengths (long, medium, and short) can be produced by alternative splicing of this gene. While the gene products of the long (PNKD-L) and medium (PNKD-M) isoforms contain the C-terminal β-lactamase domain, the short (PNKD-S) isoform, commonly referred to as myofibrillogenesis regulator-1 (MR-1), contains only three exons and lacks homology to any known protein. [7] [8] These isoforms also differ in their tissue-specific expression and subcellular localization. Specifically, PNKD-L is only expressed in the central nervous system whereas PNKD-M and PNKD-S are ubiquitously expressed across tissues. [7] Moreover, PNKD-L localizes to the cell membrane, PNKD-S to the cytoplasm and nucleus, and PNKD-M to the mitochondrion. [9]
The function of PNKD proteins are unknown but the long and medium isoforms of PNKD contain a conserved β-lactamase domain which suggest it may function as an enzyme. The closest mammalian homolog to PNKD is HAGH, an enzyme involves in a two-step reaction to hydrolyze SLG and produce D-lactic acid and reduced GSH. However, the hydrolytic activity of PNKD is minimal. [7]
The long form of PNKD is neuronal specific and encodes a synaptic protein that localizes dominantly to the pre-synaptic membrane. Post-synaptic area and vesicular structure also occasionally has PNKD long form. PNKD long form interacts with pre-synaptic protein RIM and inhibits synaptic exocytosis. PNKD with disease mutations is less effective in inhibition thus the synaptic release is increased. This would cause excessive neurotransmitter release in the brain and maybe the root cause for triggering epilepsy in PNKD patients. [10]
Point mutations in PNKD exon 1 cause an inherited neurological movement disorder in humans called paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia. [6] Overexpression of PNKD has also been associated with multiple cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, [11] gastric cancer, [12] ovarian cancer, [13] and breast cancer [8] and may serve as a therapeutic target for treating these cancers or a biomarker for assessing patient outcomes. The signaling pathways involved may vary depending on the cancer. For instance, in human breast cancer (MCF7) cells, PNKD may promote tumor cell proliferation by activating the MEK/ERK signaling pathway, while in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells, PNKD may operate through the MLC2/FAK/AKT pathway. [8]
PNKD has been shown to interact with:
Merlin is a cytoskeletal protein. In humans, it is a tumor suppressor protein involved in neurofibromatosis type II. Sequence data reveal its similarity to the ERM protein family.
The PAX3 gene encodes a member of the paired box or PAX family of transcription factors. The PAX family consists of nine human (PAX1-PAX9) and nine mouse (Pax1-Pax9) members arranged into four subfamilies. Human PAX3 and mouse Pax3 are present in a subfamily along with the highly homologous human PAX7 and mouse Pax7 genes. The human PAX3 gene is located in the 2q36.1 chromosomal region, and contains 10 exons within a 100 kb region.
Glucose transporter 1, also known as solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter member 1 (SLC2A1), is a uniporter protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC2A1 gene. GLUT1 facilitates the transport of glucose across the plasma membranes of mammalian cells. This gene encodes a major glucose transporter in the mammalian blood-brain barrier. The encoded protein is found primarily in the cell membrane and on the cell surface, where it can also function as a receptor for human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) I and II. One good source of GLUT1 is erythrocyte membranes. GLUT1 accounts for 2 percent of the protein in the plasma membrane of erythrocytes. GLUT1, found in the plasma membrane of erythrocytes, is a classic example of a uniporter. After glucose is transported into the erythrocyte, it is rapidly phosphorylated, forming glucose-6-phosphate, which cannot leave the cell. Mutations in this gene can cause GLUT1 deficiency syndrome 1, GLUT1 deficiency syndrome 2, idiopathic generalized epilepsy 12, dystonia 9, and stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis.
Hexokinase-1 (HK1) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the HK1 gene on chromosome 10. Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), the first step in most glucose metabolism pathways. This gene encodes a ubiquitous form of hexokinase which localizes to the outer membrane of mitochondria. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hemolytic anemia due to hexokinase deficiency. Alternative splicing of this gene results in five transcript variants which encode different isoforms, some of which are tissue-specific. Each isoform has a distinct N-terminus; the remainder of the protein is identical among all the isoforms. A sixth transcript variant has been described, but due to the presence of several stop codons, it is not thought to encode a protein. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2009]
Paired box gene 8, also known as PAX8, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the PAX8 gene.
Syntaxin-binding protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the STXBP1 gene. This gene encodes a syntaxin-binding protein. The encoded protein appears to play a role in release of neurotransmitters via regulation of syntaxin, a transmembrane attachment protein receptor. Mutations in this gene have been associated with infantile epileptic encephalopathy-4.
Neurexin-1-alpha is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NRXN1 gene.
Phosphatidylinositol N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase subunit A is the catalytic subunit of the phosphatidylinositol N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase enzyme, which in humans is encoded by the PIGA gene.
Regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RIMS1 gene.
RNA-binding motif 10 is a protein that is encoded by the RBM10 gene. This gene maps on the X chromosome at Xp11.23 in humans. RBM10 is a regulator of alternative splicing. Alternative splicing is a process associated with gene expression to produce multiple protein isoforms from a single gene, thereby creating functional diversity and cellular complexity. RBM10 influences the expression of many genes, participating in various cellular processes and pathways such as cell proliferation and apoptosis. Its mutations are associated with various human diseases such as TARP syndrome, an X-linked congenital disorder in males resulting in pre‐ or postnatal lethality, and various cancers in adults.
Protein unc-13 homolog B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the UNC13B gene.
Secretory carrier-associated membrane protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SCAMP2 gene.
Major histocompatibility complex class I-related gene protein (MR1) is a non-classical MHC class I protein, that binds vitamine metabolites produced in certain types of bacteria. MR1 interacts with mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT).
SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (Shank3), also known as proline-rich synapse-associated protein 2 (ProSAP2), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SHANK3 gene on chromosome 22. Additional isoforms have been described for this gene but they have not yet been experimentally verified.
Synaptotagmin-7 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SYT7 gene.
Enolase 3 (ENO3), more commonly known as beta-enolase (ENO-β), is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ENO3 gene.
Connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of ras 2, also known as CNK homolog protein 2 (CNK2) or maguin, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CNKSR2 gene.
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit TIM50 is an protein that in humans is encoded by the TIMM50 gene. Tim50 is a subunit of the Tim23 translocase complex in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mutations in TIMM50 can lead to epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, and 3-methylglutaconic aciduria. TIMM50 expression is increased in breast cancer cells and decreased in hypertrophic hearts.
Proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRRT2 gene.
Casein kinase I isoform epsilon or CK1ε, is an enzyme that is encoded by the CSNK1E gene in humans. It is the mammalian homolog of doubletime. CK1ε is a serine/threonine protein kinase and is very highly conserved; therefore, this kinase is very similar to other members of the casein kinase 1 family, of which there are seven mammalian isoforms. CK1ε is most similar to CK1δ in structure and function as the two enzymes maintain a high sequence similarity on their regulatory C-terminal and catalytic domains. This gene is a major component of the mammalian oscillator which controls cellular circadian rhythms. CK1ε has also been implicated in modulating various human health issues such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes.
