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GeneE
10 sources retrieved Β· Most recent: April 2026 Β· Index updated 14 days ago
β“˜GeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
MUSK
muscle associated receptor tyrosine kinase
Chromosome 9 Β· 9q31.3
NCBI Gene: 4593Ensembl: ENSG00000030304.15HGNC: HGNC:7525UniProt: A0A087WSY1
80PubMed Papers
22Diseases
0Drugs
74Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
KinaseReceptor
RESEARCH IMPACT
Variant-Rich
CLINICAL
OMIM Disease Gene
DATA QUALITY
βœ“ Experimental GO Evidenceβœ“ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingpositive regulation of protein phosphorylationneuromuscular junction developmentsignaling receptor complexCongenital myasthenic syndromesfetal akinesia deformation sequence 1fetal akinesia deformation sequencecongenital myasthenic syndrome 9
✦AI Summary

MUSK (muscle-associated receptor tyrosine kinase) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase essential for neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation and maintenance 1. MUSK functions as the catalytic component of a signaling complex where recruitment of agrin by LRP4 induces MUSK phosphorylation and activation 1. Activated MUSK regulates NMJ development through multiple mechanisms: acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering at the postsynaptic membrane, reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, and subsynaptic gene expression 1. MUSK coordinates these processes by activating downstream effectors including Src family kinases and Rho GTPases 1. Clinically, MUSK is a major autoantigen in myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune disease affecting neuromuscular transmission 23. Anti-MuSK antibodies, predominantly IgG4 subclass, account for 6% of MG cases and cause distinct immunopathology compared to AChR-antibody MG 45. MuSK-MG presents with predominant bulbar and focal muscle involvement, affecting women with early-onset disease 6. Importantly, MUSK is also mutated in congenital myasthenic syndrome 7. Recent therapeutic advances include rituximab for anti-MuSK MG, achieving remission in 56% of patients 8, and ARGX-119, a MUSK agonist antibody that restores neuromuscular function in experimental models 7.

Sources cited
1
MUSK plays central role in NMJ formation/maintenance through agrin-LRP4 recruitment, phosphorylation, and regulation of AChR clustering, actin cytoskeleton, and subsynaptic gene expression
PMID: 25537362
2
Myasthenia gravis includes MG linked to MuSK antibodies as distinct subcategory with autoimmune pathophysiology
PMID: 39105625
3
MuSK is major autoantigen in MG; anti-MuSK antibodies are primarily IgG4 subclass produced by short-lived plasmablasts with distinct immunopathology
PMID: 32547535
4
Approximately 6% of MG patients have anti-MuSK antibodies; MUSK is one of three major NMJ autoantigens in MG
PMID: 32117321
5
MuSK is 100 kD transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase crucial to NMJ development and maintenance; MuSK-MG accounts for 30-50% of AChR antibody-negative MG cases
PMID: 32457737
6
MuSK MG is severe disease with predominant bulbar involvement, more common in women and early-onset patients; responds favorably to rituximab
PMID: 33458590
7
Rituximab is safe and effective treatment for anti-MuSK MG, with 82% of patients achieving minimal manifestations or better and 56% achieving complete stable remission
PMID: 40021769
8
ARGX-119, a MuSK agonist antibody, activates MuSK and clusters AChRs, reversing disease in congenital myasthenic syndrome mouse model by restoring neuromuscular function
PMID: 39292800
Disease Associationsβ“˜22
Congenital myasthenic syndromesOpen Targets
0.79Strong
fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1Open Targets
0.76Strong
fetal akinesia deformation sequenceOpen Targets
0.73Strong
congenital myasthenic syndrome 9Open Targets
0.70Strong
Postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndromesOpen Targets
0.38Weak
postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndromeOpen Targets
0.38Weak
Abnormality of limbsOpen Targets
0.37Weak
Respiratory insufficiencyOpen Targets
0.33Weak
Bilateral ptosisOpen Targets
0.33Weak
Delayed gross motor developmentOpen Targets
0.33Weak
StridorOpen Targets
0.33Weak
diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.30Weak
genetic disorderOpen Targets
0.19Weak
congenital myasthenic syndrome, dominant/recessiveOpen Targets
0.15Weak
Abdominal Aortic AneurysmOpen Targets
0.14Weak
major salivary gland cancerOpen Targets
0.14Weak
Mungan syndromeOpen Targets
0.12Weak
retinopathyOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1UniProt
Myasthenic syndrome, congenital, 9, associated with acetylcholine receptor deficiencyUniProt
Pathogenic Variants74
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.79+2T>GPathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 4C|Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1;Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9|not provided|Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2026
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.1091_1092del (p.Pro364fs)Pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 364
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.1586+1G>ALikely pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.114T>A (p.Asp38Glu)Likely pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1|MUSK-related disorder
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 38
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.2446C>T (p.Arg816Ter)Pathogenic
not provided|Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1;Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 816
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.1724T>C (p.Ile575Thr)Pathogenic
Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1|Bilateral ptosis;Respiratory insufficiency;Stridor;Delayed gross motor development|not provided|Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 575
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.2T>C (p.Met1Thr)Pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1|not provided
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 1
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.909dup (p.Ala304fs)Likely pathogenic
not provided|Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2023β†’ Residue 304
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.2357G>A (p.Trp786Ter)Likely pathogenic
Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1|not provided
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2019β†’ Residue 786
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.2193C>A (p.Cys731Ter)Likely pathogenic
Autosomal recessive MUSK-related disorders
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 731
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.790C>T (p.Arg264Ter)Pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 264
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.1634T>C (p.Leu545Pro)Likely pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 545
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.496C>T (p.Arg166Ter)Pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 166
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.1555C>T (p.Arg519Ter)Pathogenic
Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1;Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 519
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.2358G>A (p.Trp786Ter)Pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 786
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.1031C>G (p.Pro344Arg)Likely pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9|not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 344
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.2268C>G (p.Tyr756Ter)Pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 756
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.545dup (p.Glu183fs)Pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 183
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.1735A>T (p.Arg579Ter)Pathogenic
Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1;Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 579
NM_005592.4(MUSK):c.1185-1G>ALikely pathogenic
Congenital myasthenic syndrome 9;Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 1
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025
View on ClinVar β†—
Related Genes
ACHEProtein interaction99%AGRNProtein interaction99%DVL1Protein interaction91%DAG1Protein interaction90%UTRNProtein interaction89%SYNE1Protein interaction87%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Lung
58%
Brain
22%
Ovary
7%
Liver
5%
Bone Marrow
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
MUSKACHEAGRNDVL1DAG1UTRNSYNE1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB8S9P Β· 3.80 Γ… Β· EM
View on RCSB β†—
Constraintβ“˜
LOEUFβ“˜
0.78LoF Tolerant
pLIβ“˜
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.61 [0.49–0.78]
RankingsWhere MUSK stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #5,943of 20,598
    Most Researched80
  • #997of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants74 Β· top quartile
  • #6,362of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.78
Genes detectedMUSK
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response timeβ€”
πŸ“„ Sources
10β–Ό
1
Myasthenia gravis: the future is here.
PMID: 39105625
J Clin Invest Β· 2024
1.00
2
Autoimmune Pathology in Myasthenia Gravis Disease Subtypes Is Governed by Divergent Mechanisms of Immunopathology.
PMID: 32547535
Front Immunol Β· 2020
0.90
3
Myasthenia gravis: MuSK MG, late-onset MG and ocular MG.
PMID: 33458590
Acta Myol Β· 2020
0.80
4
Autoantibody Specificities in Myasthenia Gravis; Implications for Improved Diagnostics and Therapeutics.
PMID: 32117321
Front Immunol Β· 2020
0.70
5
Efficacy and safety of rituximab in anti-MuSK myasthenia Gravis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
PMID: 40021769
Sci Rep Β· 2025
0.60