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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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TSKS
testis specific serine kinase substrate
Chromosome 19 · 19q13.33
NCBI Gene: 60385Ensembl: ENSG00000126467.11HGNC: HGNC:30719UniProt: Q9UJT2
16PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingprotein kinase bindingcentrioleneuroinflammatory disordermyoepithelial tumorazoospermiaspermatogenic failure 72
✦AI Summary

TSKS (testis-specific serine kinase substrate) is a 592-amino acid protein expressed exclusively in testicular tissue that plays a critical role in male germ cell development. 1 Mechanistically, TSKS functions as a substrate for testis-specific serine/threonine kinases TSSK1 and TSSK2, localizing specifically to centrioles of spermatids during flagellogenesis and persisting in mature spermatozoa. 2 The TSSK2/TSKS kinase-substrate complex is essential for spermiogenesis, as targeted deletion of Tssk1/2 causes male infertility with morphological defects including failure of spermatid elongation and increased apoptosis. 3 Phosphorylation of TSKS at serine residues (Ser281/285) by TSSK2 has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. 34 Recently, TSKS was identified as an interacting partner of STK33, another kinase crucial for spermiogenesis, suggesting broader roles in germ cell regulation. 5 Clinically, TSKS expression is downregulated in testicular tumors compared to normal tissue, 1 making it a potential biomarker for testicular cancer. The tissue-specific expression and post-meiotic localization pattern position TSKS as a candidate target for reversible male contraception development. 4

Sources cited
1
TSKS is a novel testis-specific kinase substrate gene mapping to chromosome 19q13.3, expressed exclusively in testicular tissue and downregulated in testicular tumors
PMID: 11444856
2
TSKS localizes to centrioles during spermiogenesis, particularly during flagellogenesis, and persists in mature spermatozoa
PMID: 18495105
3
Deletion of Tssk1/2 causes male infertility; TSKS is phosphorylated by TSSK2 at Ser281 and persists in spermatozoa
PMID: 18533145
4
TSKS is phosphorylated by TSSK2 at serine 285; TSKS localizes to centrioles and is a candidate for reversible male contraception targeting
PMID: 17566264
5
TSKS interacts with STK33 in testicular germ cells and is involved in spermiogenesis regulation
PMID: 39909973
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neuroinflammatory disorderOpen Targets
0.29Weak
myoepithelial tumorOpen Targets
0.11Weak
azoospermiaOpen Targets
0.10Weak
spermatogenic failure 72Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure, X-linked, 5Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 18Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 27Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 46Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
partial chromosome Y deletionOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 19Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 43Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 45Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 49Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 82Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 65Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 84Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 93Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 83Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 56Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 94Open Targets
0.08Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
TSSK1BProtein interaction89%TSSK2Protein interaction79%TSSK6Protein interaction73%TSSK4Protein interaction72%TSSK3Protein interaction72%AP2A1Protein interaction70%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Bone Marrow
70%
Ovary
44%
Lung
38%
Liver
25%
Brain
5%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
TSKSTSSK1BTSSK2TSSK6TSSK4TSSK3AP2A1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q9UJT2
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.59Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
0.16Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.42 [0.30–0.59]
RankingsWhere TSKS stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #15,427of 20,598
    Most Researched16
  • #3,972of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.59 · top quartile
Genes detectedTSKS
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Gene expression landscape of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma progression.
PMID: 38867481
Br J Dermatol · 2024
1.00
2
Signatures of EMT, immunosuppression, and inflammation in primary and recurrent human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma at single-cell resolution.
PMID: 36438481
Theranostics · 2022
0.90
3
Targeted deletion of Tssk1 and 2 causes male infertility due to haploinsufficiency.
PMID: 18533145
Dev Biol · 2008
0.80
4
DNA-dependent protein kinase regulates lysosomal AMP-dependent protein kinase activation and autophagy.
PMID: 31983282
Autophagy · 2020
0.70
5
Validation of a testis specific serine/threonine kinase [TSSK] family and the substrate of TSSK1 & 2, TSKS, as contraceptive targets.
PMID: 17566264
Soc Reprod Fertil Suppl · 2007
0.60