HomeAboutRankingsData Sources
© 2026 GeneE
🧬
GeneE
10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
ⓘGeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
PKN2
protein kinase N2
Chromosome 1 · 1p22.2
NCBI Gene: 5586Ensembl: ENSG00000065243.21HGNC: HGNC:9406UniProt: Q16513
142PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
KinaseTranscription Factor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
RNA bindingapical junction assemblypositive regulation of viral genome replicationpositive regulation of mitotic cell cycleneurodegenerative diseasehypertensionneuroinflammatory disordergout
✦AI Summary

PKN2 (protein kinase N2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that functions as a Rho GTPase effector with diverse roles in cellular regulation and disease processes 1. The protein exhibits context-dependent functions in cancer, acting as both a tumor suppressor and promoter depending on the cellular environment. In colon cancer, PKN2 functions as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting M2 macrophage polarization through the DUSP6-Erk1/2 pathway and suppressing angiogenesis via HIF-1α regulation 23. However, in pancreatic cancer, PKN2 promotes myofibroblast differentiation in pancreatic stellate cells, and its loss paradoxically increases tumor invasion 4. PKN2 serves as a critical dependency for mesenchymal-like cancer cells, functioning through a PKN2-SAV1-TAZ signaling mechanism within the Hippo pathway 5. In vascular biology, PKN2 mediates flow-induced endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation through mechanosensitive Piezo1 channels, directly phosphorylating eNOS and regulating vascular tone and blood pressure 6. Additionally, PKN2 enhances immunosuppressive activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells by promoting fatty acid oxidation through STAT3-CPT1B signaling 7. The kinase undergoes allosteric regulation through interactions with PDK1 and can be modulated by small molecule compounds targeting its PIF-pocket 8.

Sources cited
1
PKN2 is a Rho GTPase effector serine/threonine kinase involved in cytoskeleton organization and cell cycle regulation
PMID: 35104640
2
PKN2 inhibits M2 macrophage polarization in colon cancer via DUSP6-Erk1/2 pathway regulation
PMID: 29368606
3
PKN2 suppresses angiogenesis by targeting HIF-1α and reducing VEGFA and bFGF expression
PMID: 40515512
4
PKN2 is critical for pancreatic stellate cell myofibroblast differentiation and its loss promotes tumor invasion
PMID: 35081338
5
PKN2 functions as a dependency of mesenchymal-like cancer cells through PKN2-SAV1-TAZ Hippo pathway signaling
PMID: 39560431
6
PKN2 mediates flow-induced eNOS activation through Piezo1 mechanosensing and directly phosphorylates eNOS
PMID: 34499618
7
PKN2 enhances immunosuppressive activity of PMN-MDSCs by promoting fatty acid oxidation via STAT3-CPT1B signaling
PMID: 40069590
8
PKN2 undergoes allosteric regulation through PDK1 interactions and can be modulated by small molecule compounds
PMID: 39002682
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.56Moderate
hypertensionOpen Targets
0.50Moderate
neuroinflammatory disorderOpen Targets
0.37Weak
goutOpen Targets
0.35Weak
response to xenobiotic stimulusOpen Targets
0.31Weak
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseOpen Targets
0.28Weak
neuroendocrine neoplasmOpen Targets
0.27Weak
essential hypertensionOpen Targets
0.26Weak
insomniaOpen Targets
0.23Weak
placenta praeviaOpen Targets
0.22Weak
smoking initiationOpen Targets
0.22Weak
smoking cessationOpen Targets
0.20Weak
Abdominal painOpen Targets
0.19Weak
Abnormal mastoid morphologyOpen Targets
0.19Weak
age-related hearing impairmentOpen Targets
0.19Weak
HeadacheOpen Targets
0.19Weak
middle ear disorderOpen Targets
0.19Weak
risk-taking behaviourOpen Targets
0.19Weak
non-suppurative otitis mediaOpen Targets
0.18Weak
allergic rhinitisOpen Targets
0.18Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
AKT1Protein interaction100%NCK1Protein interaction98%MEFVProtein interaction96%YWHAEProtein interaction93%RHOAProtein interaction92%RPS6KA1Protein interaction91%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Ovary
84%
Heart
73%
Lung
65%
Liver
49%
Brain
36%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
PKN2AKT1NCK1MEFVYWHAERHOARPS6KA1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB4RRV · 1.41 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.43Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.28 [0.19–0.43]
RankingsWhere PKN2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #3,230of 20,598
    Most Researched142 · top quartile
  • #2,290of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.43 · top quartile
Genes detectedPKN2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
PKN2 in colon cancer cells inhibits M2 phenotype polarization of tumor-associated macrophages via regulating DUSP6-Erk1/2 pathway.
PMID: 29368606
Mol Cancer · 2018
1.00
2
Disruption of pancreatic stellate cell myofibroblast phenotype promotes pancreatic tumor invasion.
PMID: 35081338
Cell Rep · 2022
0.90
3
PKN2 Is a Dependency of the Mesenchymal-like Cancer Cell State.
PMID: 39560431
Cancer Discov · 2025
0.80
4
Protein kinase N2 mediates flow-induced endothelial NOS activation and vascular tone regulation.
PMID: 34499618
J Clin Invest · 2021
0.70
5
PKN2 Inhibits VEGFA and bFGF-Mediated Angiogenesis by Targeting HIF-1α in Colon Cancer.
PMID: 40515512
Kaohsiung J Med Sci · 2025
0.60