# KANK1

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/kank1/  
OnCo record `kank1` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

KANK1 (KN motif and ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 1) is a protein that switches other genes on and off. In the public catalogues the evidence so far is association rather than a proven role.

## Summary

Adapter protein that links structural and signalling protein complexes positioned to guide microtubule and actin cytoskeleton dynamics during cell morphogenesis. At focal adhesions (FAs) rims, organises cortical microtubule stabilising complexes (CMSCs) and directly interacts with major FA component TLN1, forming macromolecular assemblies positioned to control microtubule-actin crosstalk at the cell edge. Recruits KIF21A in CMSCs at axonal growth cones and regulates axon guidance by suppressing microtubule growth without inducing microtubule disassembly once it reaches the cell cortex.

Open Targets scores its association with cancer at 0.61 (direct and indirect evidence; datatypes literature 0.89, affected pathway 0.76, genetic association 0.63).

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: KN motif and ankyrin repeat domains 1; KN motif and ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 1; KIAA0172; ANKRD15
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: KANK1
- Class: transcription
- Biology: Adapter protein that links structural and signalling protein complexes positioned to guide microtubule and actin cytoskeleton dynamics during cell morphogenesis. At focal adhesions (FAs) rims, organises cortical microtubule stabilising complexes (CMSCs) and directly interacts with major FA component TLN1, forming macromolecular assemblies positioned to control microtubule-actin crosstalk at the cell edge. Recruits KIF21A in CMSCs at axonal growth cones and regulates axon guidance by suppressing microtubule growth without inducing microtubule disassembly once it reaches the cell cortex. Interacts with ARFGEF1 and participates in establishing microtubule-organising centre (MTOC) orientation and directed cell movement in wound healing. Regulates actin stress fibre formation and cell migration by inhibiting RHOA activation in response to growth factors; this function involves phosphorylation through PI3K/Akt signalling and may depend on the competitive interaction with 14-3-3 adapter proteins to sequester them from active complexes. Inhibits the formation of lamellipodia but not of filopodia; this function may depend on the competitive interaction with BAIAP2 to block its association with activated RAC1. Location: Cytoplasm, cell cortex; Cell projection, ruffle membrane; Cytoplasm; Nucleus (UniProt). Locus 9p24.3 (HGNC).

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: none stated by the sources. Evidence tier "association-only" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:19309: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:19309
- UniProt Q14678: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q14678/entry
- NCBI Gene 23189: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/23189
- Ensembl ENSG00000107104: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000107104

## Connected records

- collections: [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/kank1.json