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10 sources retrieved Β· Most recent: April 2026 Β· Index updated 14 days ago
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KANK2
KN motif and ankyrin repeat domains 2
Chromosome 19 Β· 19p13.2
NCBI Gene: 25959Ensembl: ENSG00000197256.12HGNC: HGNC:29300UniProt: Q63ZY3
93PubMed Papers
22Diseases
0Drugs
3Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transcription Factor
CLINICAL
OMIM Disease Gene
DATA QUALITY
βœ“ Experimental GO Evidenceβœ“ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingnegative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase IInegative regulation of G1/S transition of mitotic cell cyclecytoplasmnephrotic syndrome 16wooly hair-palmoplantar keratoderma syndromehypertensionfamilial idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome
✦AI Summary

KANK2 is a multifunctional regulatory protein that coordinates actin-microtubule dynamics and cell survival. Primarily, KANK2 sequesters nuclear receptor coactivators (NCOA1-3) in the cytoplasm to inhibit transcription 1, and binds talin2 at focal adhesions to stabilize microtubules and regulate actin polymerization critical for cell migration 2. Through Rho signaling pathway interactions with ARHGDIA, KANK2 regulates podocyte migration during kidney development 3. KANK2 also negatively controls apoptosis by sequestering the pro-apoptotic factor AIFM1 in mitochondria; pro-apoptotic stimuli trigger KANK2 proteasomal degradation, releasing AIFM1 to induce apoptosis 4. HSP70 interaction with KANK2 inhibits this apoptotic pathway, protecting against septic lung injury 5. Clinically, reduced KANK2 expression associates with nephrotic syndrome and renal tubular dysfunction; E2F1, TFAP2C, and NRF1 transcription factors positively regulate KANK2 to maintain renal function 6. KANK2 dysregulation appears in multiple disease contexts: it serves as a hub gene in sarcopenia-diabetes pathways 7, is a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative disease 8, and functions as an oncogenic fusion partner in leiomyosarcoma 9. Alternative splicing of KANK2 contributes to hepatocellular carcinogenesis 10.

Sources cited
1
KANK2 sequesters nuclear receptor coactivators NCOA1, NCOA2, and NCOA3 in the cytoplasm to regulate transcription
PMID: 17476305
2
KANK2 sequesters AIFM1 in mitochondria to inhibit apoptosis; proteasomal degradation of KANK2 releases AIFM1 to induce apoptosis
PMID: 22371500
3
KANK2 regulates actin stress fibers and podocyte migration during kidney development through Rho signaling
PMID: 25961457
4
KANK2 functionally interacts with talin2 to regulate microtubule dynamics, paclitaxel sensitivity, and cell migration
PMID: 37460977
5
HSP70 interacts with KANK2 to inhibit apoptosis and protect against septic lung injury
PMID: 35327602
6
KANK2 is downregulated in nephrotic syndrome patients; E2F1, TFAP2C, and NRF1 transcription factors positively regulate KANK2 to maintain renal function
PMID: 38253280
7
KANK2 is identified as a hub gene shared between sarcopenia and type 2 diabetes pathways
PMID: 35271662
8
KANK2 is identified as a promising therapeutic target in progressive supranuclear palsy through cross-species systems biology
PMID: 37919278
9
KANK2-ALK fusion is a novel, targetable oncogenic kinase fusion in leiomyosarcoma responsive to ALK inhibitors
PMID: 30518629
10
KANK2 undergoes oncogenic alternative splice-switching regulated by USP39 in hepatocellular carcinoma
PMID: 37821439
Disease Associationsβ“˜22
nephrotic syndrome 16Open Targets
0.61Moderate
wooly hair-palmoplantar keratoderma syndromeOpen Targets
0.56Moderate
hypertensionOpen Targets
0.38Weak
familial idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndromeOpen Targets
0.37Weak
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.33Weak
glaucomaOpen Targets
0.32Weak
cardiovascular diseaseOpen Targets
0.31Weak
open-angle glaucomaOpen Targets
0.29Weak
systemic lupus erythematosusOpen Targets
0.24Weak
aortic stenosisOpen Targets
0.22Weak
nephrotic syndromeOpen Targets
0.19Weak
hemorrhoidOpen Targets
0.16Weak
malignant renal pelvis neoplasmOpen Targets
0.16Weak
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.11Weak
bronchial diseaseOpen Targets
0.11Weak
cervical carcinomaOpen Targets
0.11Weak
kidney transplantOpen Targets
0.11Weak
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.10Weak
nontoxic goiterOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Nephrotic syndrome 16UniProt
Palmoplantar keratoderma and woolly hairUniProt
Pathogenic Variants3
NM_001136191.3(KANK2):c.1491del (p.Ser498fs)Likely pathogenic
Nephrotic syndrome 16
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 498
NM_001136191.3(KANK2):c.2027C>T (p.Ser676Phe)Pathogenic
Nephrotic syndrome 16
β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†2018β†’ Residue 676
NM_001136191.3(KANK2):c.2009C>T (p.Ala670Val)Pathogenic
Wooly hair-palmoplantar keratoderma syndrome
β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†2014β†’ Residue 670
View on ClinVar β†—
Related Genes
KIF21AProtein interaction96%ARHGDIAProtein interaction86%PPFIBP1Protein interaction78%KANK1Shared pathway19%MYO16Shared pathway18%RERGShared pathway17%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Ovary
100%
Heart
97%
Lung
58%
Liver
23%
Bone Marrow
12%
Brain
8%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
KANK2KIF21AARHGDIAPPFIBP1KANK1MYO16RERG
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB6TMD Β· 1.50 Γ… Β· X-ray
View on RCSB β†—
Constraintβ“˜
LOEUFβ“˜
0.70LoF Tolerant
pLIβ“˜
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.54 [0.42–0.70]
RankingsWhere KANK2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #5,149of 20,598
    Most Researched93 Β· top quartile
  • #3,996of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants3
  • #5,371of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.70
Genes detectedKANK2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response timeβ€”
πŸ“„ Sources
10β–Ό
1
Identification of the shared gene signatures and pathways between sarcopenia and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
PMID: 35271662
PLoS One Β· 2022
1.00
2
Cross species systems biology discovers glial DDR2, STOM, and KANK2 as therapeutic targets in progressive supranuclear palsy.
PMID: 37919278
Nat Commun Β· 2023
0.90
3
USP39 promotes hepatocellular carcinogenesis through regulating alternative splicing in cooperation with SRSF6/HNRNPC.
PMID: 37821439
Cell Death Dis Β· 2023
0.80
4
Talin2 and KANK2 functionally interact to regulate microtubule dynamics, paclitaxel sensitivity and cell migration in the MDA-MB-435S melanoma cell line.
PMID: 37460977
Cell Mol Biol Lett Β· 2023
0.70
5
HSP70 Ameliorates Septic Lung Injury via Inhibition of Apoptosis by Interacting with KANK2.
PMID: 35327602
Biomolecules Β· 2022
0.60