AHNAK
AHNAK is a very large structural scaffold protein, also known as desmoyokin, AHNAK1 and neuroblast differentiation-associated protein AHNAK. It may be required for neuronal cell differentiation and has been linked to cell structure, migration and tumour metastasis. Browse Assay Genie's current range of AHNAK research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
AHNAK is a large structural scaffold protein. According to UniProt, it may be required for neuronal cell differentiation, and its protein entry is annotated to the nucleus. The NCBI Gene summary describes a protein of around 700 kDa whose central region is built from repeats of 128 amino acids. This repeat-rich architecture is consistent with a role as a scaffold rather than as an enzyme, and no EC number is assigned.
The AHNAK gene encodes the protein listed by UniProt as neuroblast differentiation-associated protein AHNAK, and HGNC classifies it within the PDZ domain containing gene group. NCBI notes that the protein may contribute to a range of processes, including blood-brain barrier formation, cell structure and migration, cardiac calcium channel regulation and tumour metastasis. These roles are described as possible, so researchers should treat them as areas of investigation rather than settled functions.
A much shorter variant of the gene encodes a 17 kDa isoform. According to RefSeq, this shorter isoform initiates a feedback loop that regulates alternative splicing of the gene itself. The name was previously recorded by HGNC as AHNAK nucleoprotein (desmoyokin), and the aliases MGC5395 and AHNAK1 also appear in the literature and databases. Studies of the AHNAK protein therefore need to consider both the very large full-length form and the short isoform.
AHNAK may be required for neuronal cell differentiation, making it a candidate for studies of neuroblast development.
The protein may play a role in blood-brain barrier formation, an area where its scaffold function is of interest.
As a large structural scaffold, AHNAK is studied in relation to cell structure and cell migration.
AHNAK may contribute to tumour metastasis, and its involvement in cardiac calcium channel regulation is also under investigation.
AHNAK is a large structural scaffold protein. UniProt states that it may be required for neuronal cell differentiation. NCBI adds that it may play a role in blood-brain barrier formation, cell structure and migration, cardiac calcium channel regulation and tumour metastasis.
AHNAK is also called AHNAK1 and MGC5395, and was previously named AHNAK nucleoprotein (desmoyokin). Besides the very large full-length protein of about 700 kDa, a short variant encodes a 17 kDa isoform that initiates a feedback loop regulating alternative splicing of the gene.
NCBI reports that AHNAK may play a role in tumour metastasis, alongside other processes such as cardiac calcium channel regulation. The wording is tentative, so these links are best viewed as research leads. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other scaffold proteins, PDZ domain proteins and neuronal differentiation markers with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q09666; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.