High impact information on AKNA

• During B-lymphocyte differentiation, AKNA is mainly expressed by germinal centre B lymphocytes, a stage in which receptor and ligand interactions are crucial for B-lymphocyte maturation [1].
• AKNA is mainly expressed by B and T lymphocytes, natural killer cells and dendritic cells [1].
• We also find that AKNA PEST-dependent cleavage into p50 polypeptides is targeted to mature B cells and appears to be required for CD40 upregulation [2].
• Many of the AKNA transcripts originate from alternative splicing; others appear to derive from differential polyadenylation and promoter usage [2].
• We previously showed that the human AKNA gene encodes an AT-hook transcription factor that regulates the expression of costimulatory cell surface molecules on lymphocytes [2].
• A single-nucleotide polymorphism at the DNA binding AT-hook motif of AKNA is highly associated with cervical cancer [3]

Biological context of AKNA

• The human AKNA gene expresses multiple transcripts and protein isoforms as a result of alternative promoter usage, splicing, and polyadenylation [2].
• Here we report evidence for the latter, as we find that AKNA is encoded by a single gene that spans a 61-kb locus of 24 exons on the fragile FRA9E region of human chromosome 9q32 [2].
• AKNA appears to be an important genetic factor associated with the risk cervical cancer [3]

References