TNIK: Traf2 and NCK Interacting Kinase
A key regulator of Wnt signaling and cytoskeletal dynamics, implicated in cancer and developmental disorders.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | TNIK |
|---|---|
| Full Name | TRAF2 and NCK interacting kinase |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 3q26.31 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 23043 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/23043 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000114491 |
| UniProt ID | Q9UKE5 |
| OMIM ID | 610005 |
| HGNC ID | 30765 |
| Aliases | KIAA0551, MINK, MINK1, MINK-1, TNIK-1 |
Description
TNIK (TRAF2 and NCK interacting kinase) encodes a serine/threonine kinase that belongs to the germinal center kinase (GCK) family. It acts as a key component of the Wnt signaling pathway by interacting with TCF4 and β-catenin, and also regulates cytoskeletal reorganization through its interaction with TRAF2 and NCK. TNIK is involved in cell proliferation, migration, and synaptic function.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Colorectal Cancer | TNIK activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling via TCF4 phosphorylation, promoting tumorigenesis. | COSMIC, NCBI |
| Schizophrenia | TNIK variants are associated with synaptic dysfunction and altered Wnt signaling in neural development. | OMIM, ClinVar |
| Intellectual Disability | Homozygous loss-of-function mutations in TNIK cause autosomal recessive intellectual disability. | OMIM, ClinVar |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Brain | 12.5 | High |
| Colon | 8.2 | Medium |
| Lung | 6.1 | Medium |
| Liver | 4.3 | Low |
| Heart | 3.8 | Low |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HEK293 | 10.1 | Embryonic kidney, high expression |
| HCT116 | 9.5 | Colorectal carcinoma, high expression |
| SH-SY5Y | 7.8 | Neuroblastoma, medium expression |
| HeLa | 6.2 | Cervical carcinoma, medium expression |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.2236C>T (p.Arg746*) | Nonsense | <0.1% | Loss of function; associated with intellectual disability |
| c.1942G>A (p.Glu648Lys) | Missense | 0.2% | Gain of function; implicated in colorectal cancer |
| c.1015C>T (p.Arg339Trp) | Missense | 0.05% | Unknown; reported in schizophrenia |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Nonsense and frameshift mutations leading to truncated protein; associated with intellectual disability.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Missense mutations (e.g., p.Glu648Lys) that enhance kinase activity and Wnt signaling; linked to cancer.
Dominant Negative (DN)
Not well characterized; some missense variants may interfere with wild-type TNIK function.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • protein serine/threonine kinase activity | • ATP binding |
| • Wnt signaling pathway | • cytoskeleton organization |
| • synaptic transmission | • cell migration |
Pathways
• Wnt signaling pathway
• MAPK signaling pathway
• Regulation of actin cytoskeleton
• Synaptic vesicle cycle
Protein Summary
TNIK is a 1360-amino acid serine/threonine kinase with an N-terminal kinase domain, a central coiled-coil region, and a C-terminal citron homology domain. It localizes to the cytoplasm and synapses, where it phosphorylates TCF4 to regulate Wnt target gene transcription. TNIK also interacts with TRAF2 and NCK to modulate JNK signaling and actin dynamics.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TNIK Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ7790 | Human | 23043 | Details Get a Quote |
| TNIK Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ33282 | Human | 23043 | Details Get a Quote |
| TNIK Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ33283 | Human | 23043 | Details Get a Quote |
| TNIK Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ33284 | Human | 23043 | Details Get a Quote |
| TNIK Knockout HAP1 Cell Line | EDC08297 | Human | 23043 | Details Get a Quote |
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