# KNSTRN

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

## TL;DR

KNSTRN (Small kinetochore-associated protein) is a gene that drives cell growth when it is altered. The public catalogues list it as an oncogene driver, and it is called a cancer driver by mutation analysis of patient cohorts. Tied to Melanoma.

## Summary

Essential component of the mitotic spindle required for faithful chromosome segregation and progression into anaphase. Promotes the metaphase-to-anaphase transition and is required for chromosome alignment, normal timing of sister chromatid segregation, and maintenance of spindle pole architecture. The astrin (SPAG5)-kinastrin (SKAP) complex promotes stable microtubule-kinetochore attachments.

IntOGen calls it a driver in 1 cohort (1 activating, 0 loss-of-function), covering Cutaneous Melanoma.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: kinetochore localized astrin (SPAG5) binding protein; Small kinetochore-associated protein; FLJ14502; kinastrin; TRAF4AF1; C15orf23
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: KNSTRN
- Class: oncogene
- Biology: Essential component of the mitotic spindle required for faithful chromosome segregation and progression into anaphase. Promotes the metaphase-to-anaphase transition and is required for chromosome alignment, normal timing of sister chromatid segregation, and maintenance of spindle pole architecture. The astrin (SPAG5)-kinastrin (SKAP) complex promotes stable microtubule-kinetochore attachments. Required for kinetochore oscillations and dynamics of microtubule plus-ends during live cell mitosis, possibly by forming a link between spindle microtubule plus-ends and mitotic chromosomes to achieve faithful cell division. May be involved in UV-induced apoptosis via its interaction with PRPF19; however, these results need additional evidence. Location: Nucleus; Chromosome, centromere, kinetochore; Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, spindle pole; Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, microtubule organizing center (UniProt). Locus 15q15.1 (HGNC).
- Where found: Melanoma: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (SKCM)

## 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: IntOGen calls it an activating (Act) driver in 1 cohort. Evidence tier "cohort-driver" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:30767: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:30767
- UniProt Q9Y448: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q9Y448/entry
- NCBI Gene 90417: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/90417
- Ensembl ENSG00000128944: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000128944

## Connected records

- collections: [IntOGen](https://onco.cc/collections/intogen/)
- cancers: [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/)

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