# TYK2

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/tyk2/  
OnCo record `tyk2` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

TYK2 (Non-receptor tyrosine-protein kinase TYK2) is a protein kinase, an enzyme that switches other proteins on by adding phosphate groups. The public catalogues list it as a drug target and a biomarker, and an approved or late-stage drug is recorded against it. Tied to Myeloproliferative neoplasms, Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour and Polycythaemia vera.

## Summary

Non-membrane spanning protein tyrosine kinase involved in numerous cytokines and interferons signalling, which regulates cell growth, development, cell migration, innate and adaptive immunity. Plays both structural and catalytic roles in numerous interleukins and interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) signalling. Associates with heterodimeric cytokine receptor complexes and activates STAT family members including STAT1, STAT3, STAT4 or STAT6.

CIViC holds 1 clinical evidence item and 0 assertions across 2 variants. Open Targets scores its association with cancer at 0.73 (direct and indirect evidence; datatypes clinical 0.96, affected pathway 0.83, literature 0.96, genetic association 0.00, animal model 0.49).

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: tyrosine kinase 2; Non-receptor tyrosine-protein kinase TYK2; JTK1
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: TYK2
- Class: kinase
- Biology: Non-membrane spanning protein tyrosine kinase involved in numerous cytokines and interferons signalling, which regulates cell growth, development, cell migration, innate and adaptive immunity. Plays both structural and catalytic roles in numerous interleukins and interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) signalling. Associates with heterodimeric cytokine receptor complexes and activates STAT family members including STAT1, STAT3, STAT4 or STAT6. The heterodimeric cytokine receptor complexes are composed of (1) a TYK2-associated receptor chain (IFNAR1, IL12RB1, IL10RB or IL13RA1), and (2) a second receptor chain associated either with JAK1 or JAK2. In response to cytokine-binding to receptors, phosphorylates and activates receptors (IFNAR1, IL12RB1, IL10RB or IL13RA1), creating docking sites for STAT members. In turn, recruited STATs are phosphorylated by TYK2 (or JAK1/JAK2 on the second receptor chain), form homo- and heterodimers, translocate to the nucleus, and regulate cytokine/growth factor responsive genes. Locus 19p13.2 (HGNC).
- Where found: Myeloproliferative neoplasms: Open Targets association 0.60 with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MONDO_0020076); Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour: CIViC evidence names this disease; Polycythaemia vera: Open Targets association 0.50 with acquired polycythemia vera (MONDO_0009891)

## 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: Open Targets known-drug datatype score 0.96; CIViC holds 1 clinical evidence items on its variants. Evidence tier "approved-drug" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:12440: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:12440
- UniProt P29597: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P29597/entry
- NCBI Gene 7297: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/7297
- Ensembl ENSG00000105397: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000105397

## Connected records

- collections: [CIViC](https://onco.cc/collections/civic/), [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)
- cancers: [Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST)](https://onco.cc/cancers/malignant-peripheral-nerve-sheath-tumour/), [Myeloproliferative neoplasms (PV, ET, myelofibrosis)](https://onco.cc/cancers/myeloproliferative-neoplasms/), [Polycythaemia vera (PV)](https://onco.cc/cancers/polycythaemia-vera/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/tyk2.json