TPX2

TPX2

<div class="infobox infobox-gene">
<span class="infobox-title">TPX2</span>
<table>
<tr><th>Full Name</th><td>Targeting Protein For Xklp2 (Microtubule Nucleation Factor)</td></tr>
<tr><th>Chromosomal Location</th><td>12q23.2</td></tr>
<tr><th>NCBI Gene ID</th><td>22974</td></tr>
<tr><th>OMIM</th><td>604202</td></tr>
<tr><th>Ensembl ID</th><td>ENSG00000178999</td></tr>
<tr><th>UniProt ID</th><td>Q9ULW0</td></tr>
<tr><th>Protein</th><td>TPX2 protein</td></tr>
<tr><th>Associated Diseases</th><td>Cancer (multiple types), Aneuploidy, Mitotic defects</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

Overview

TPX2

<div class="infobox infobox-gene">
<span class="infobox-title">TPX2</span>
<table>
<tr><th>Full Name</th><td>Targeting Protein For Xklp2 (Microtubule Nucleation Factor)</td></tr>
<tr><th>Chromosomal Location</th><td>12q23.2</td></tr>
<tr><th>NCBI Gene ID</th><td>22974</td></tr>
<tr><th>OMIM</th><td>604202</td></tr>
<tr><th>Ensembl ID</th><td>ENSG00000178999</td></tr>
<tr><th>UniProt ID</th><td>Q9ULW0</td></tr>
<tr><th>Protein</th><td>TPX2 protein</td></tr>
<tr><th>Associated Diseases</th><td>Cancer (multiple types), Aneuploidy, Mitotic defects</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

Overview

TPX2 is a human gene whose product tPX2 (Targeting Protein for Xklp2) is a microtubule-associated protein that functions as a key regulator of microtubule nucleation during mitosis["@wittmann2000"]. It plays critical roles in spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, and proper cell division. Variants in TPX2 have been implicated in Cancer, Neurodegeneration. This page covers the gene's normal function, disease associations, expression patterns, and key research findings relevant to neurodegeneration.

Function

TPX2 (Targeting Protein for Xklp2) is a microtubule-associated protein that functions as a key regulator of microtubule nucleation during mitosis[@wittmann2000]. It plays critical roles in spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, and proper cell division.

Key Molecular Functions

• Microtubule nucleation: TPX2 triggers microtubule formation from γ-TuRC complexes[@tulu2006]
• Spindle assembly: Recruits and activates Aurora A kinase at spindle poles[@tsai2003]
• Kinesin-5 inhibition: Controls spindle dynamics by modulating Eg5/kinesin-5 activity[@mayer1999]
• Chromosome alignment: Facilitates proper kinetochore-microtubule attachments[@obrien2008]

• Phosphorylation by Aurora A and Cdk1[@eyers2003]
• Ran-GTP gradient around chromosomes[@caudron2005]
• Importin-α/β mediated nuclear import[@schwoerer2004]

Disease Associations

Cancer

• Multiple cancers: TPX2 overexpressed in lung, breast, ovarian, pancreatic cancers[@gingold2014]
• Prognostic marker: High expression correlates with poor prognosis[@suitters2007]
• Therapeutic target: TPX2 as biomarker and potential target[@tan2015]

Neurodegeneration

• Alzheimer's disease: Microtubule defects in AD [neurons](/entities/neurons); TPX2 dysregulation may contribute[@baas2003]
• Tauopathies: TPX2-Aurora A axis affected in tauopathy models[@liu2014]
• Axonal transport defects: Role in microtubule stability relevant to neurodegeneration[@mandelkow2003]

Expression

TPX2 expression is cell cycle-regulated:

• High in mitosis: Peak expression in G2/M phase[@lucchesi2003]
• Low in interphase: Minimal expression in non-dividing cells
• Tissue-specific: High in proliferating tissues (bone marrow, testis, embryonic tissues)

• Neural progenitor cells (high)[@wang2009]
• Developing neurons
• Low in mature neurons

Therapeutic Implications

• Cancer therapy: Aurora kinase inhibitors affect TPX2 function[@zhou2011]
• Anti-mitotic drugs: TPX2 pathway as therapeutic target[@kolman2014]
• Combination therapy: TPX2 targeting with microtubule-stabilizing agents[@khazaei2015]

See Also

• [Aurora A](/genes/aurka) - Kinase partner
• [Microtubules](/entities/microtubules) - Cytoskeletal component
• [Spindle Assembly](/mechanisms/mitosis) - Pathway
• [Axonal Transport](/mechanisms/axonal-transport) - Related mechanism

External Links

• [NCBI Gene: TPX2](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/22974)
• [UniProt: Q9ULW0](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9ULW0)
• [OMIM: 604202](https://www.omim.org/entry/604202)

References

Pathway Diagram

The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving TPX2 discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: