TNKS
TNKS, short for tankyrase, refers to two closely related human enzymes: tankyrase-1 (TNKS) and tankyrase-2 (TNKS2). They are members of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family and catalyze poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of substrate proteins using NAD+ as a donor. The proteins feature ankyrin repeats for substrate recognition and a catalytic PARP domain responsible for PAR synthesis. They localize to multiple cellular compartments, including the cytoplasm and the Golgi apparatus, and can associate with mitotic spindle structures during cell division.
TNKS proteins regulate a variety of cellular processes, most notably Wnt/β-catenin signaling. By PARylating AXIN1 and
In clinical research, tankyrases have been investigated as therapeutic targets in cancers with hyperactive Wnt signaling.
TNKS and TNKS2 are conserved vertebrate paralogs with overlapping and distinct contributions to cellular pathways, and