SYMPK

Symplekin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SYMPK gene.

Function

This gene encodes a nuclear protein that functions in the regulation of polyadenylation and promotes gene expression. The protein forms a high-molecular weight complex with components of the polyadenylation machinery. It is thought to serve as a scaffold for recruiting regulatory factors to the polyadenylation complex. It also participates in 3'-end maturation of histone mRNAs, which do not undergo polyadenylation. The protein also localizes to the cytoplasmic plaques of tight junctions in some cell types.

Model organisms

Sympk knockout mouse phenotype

Characteristic	Phenotype
Homozygote viability	Abnormal
Recessive lethal study	Abnormal
Fertility	Normal
Body weight	Normal
Anxiety	Normal
Neurological assessment	Normal
Grip strength	Normal
Hot plate	Normal
Dysmorphology	Normal
Indirect calorimetry	Normal
Glucose tolerance test	Normal
Auditory brainstem response	Normal
DEXA	Normal
Radiography	Normal
Body temperature	Normal
Eye morphology	Normal
Clinical chemistry	Normal
Plasma immunoglobulins	Normal
Haematology	Normal
Peripheral blood lymphocytes	Normal
Micronucleus test	Normal
Heart weight	Normal
Brain histopathology	Normal
Salmonella infection	Normal
Citrobacter infection	Normal
All tests and analysis from

Model organisms have been used in the study of SYMPK function. A conditional knockout mouse line, called Sympk^{tm1a(EUCOMM)Wtsi} was generated as part of the International Knockout Mouse Consortium program — a high-throughput mutagenesis project to generate and distribute animal models of disease to interested scientists.

Male and female animals underwent a standardized phenotypic screen to determine the effects of deletion. Twenty five tests were carried out on mutant mice and two significant abnormalities were observed. No homozygous mutant embryos were identified during gestation, and thus none survived until weaning. The remaining tests were carried out on heterozygous mutant adult mice; no additional significant abnormalities were observed in these animals.

Interactions

SYMPK has been shown to interact with CSTF2 and HSF1.