TNIK
Description
The TNIK (TRAF2 and NCK interacting kinase) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 3.
TNIK (TRAF2 and NCK-interacting protein kinase) is an enzyme encoded by the TNIK gene in humans. It is a germinal center kinase (GCK) with an N-terminal kinase domain and a C-terminal GCK domain that regulates its activity. TNIK interacts with KIAA0090, though the significance is unclear. TNIK phosphorylates Gelsolin, a protein involved in F-actin depolymerization, leading to cytoskeletal changes. TNIK plays a critical role in pulmonary fibrosis, and TNIK inhibitors are used in its treatment.
TNIK is a serine/threonine kinase that acts as a crucial activator of the Wnt signaling pathway. It is recruited to promoters of Wnt target genes, where it activates their expression. TNIK may exert its function by phosphorylating TCF4/TCF7L2. It appears to act upstream of the JUN N-terminal pathway. TNIK may be involved in the response to environmental stress. It is part of a signaling complex, composed of NEDD4, RAP2A, and TNIK, which regulates neuronal dendrite extension and arborization during development. More broadly, TNIK might play a role in cytoskeletal rearrangements and regulate cell spreading. TNIK phosphorylates SMAD1 at Thr-322. It is an activator of the Hippo signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in organ size control and tumor suppression by restricting proliferation and promoting apoptosis.
TNIK is also known as MRT54.
