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TMEM163 Gene
TMEM163 Gene
Introduction
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">TMEM163 Gene</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Symbol</td>
<td>TMEM163</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>TMEM163 (Transmembrane Protein 163)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosomal Location</td>
<td>2p21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene ID</td>
<td>617037</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td>617037</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl ID</td>
<td>ENSG00000169908</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>Q8WXX3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td>Parkinson's Disease, Metal Homeostasis Disorders</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Feature</td>
<td>Description</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">N-terminal domain</td>
<td>Cytoplasmic, ~50 amino acids</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Transmembrane segments</td>
<td>6-8 predicted TM helices</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Extracellular loops</td>
<td>Variable length</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">C-terminal domain</td>
<td>Cytoplasmic</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Process</td>
<td>Role of Zinc</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Synaptic transmission</td>
<td>Modulates NMDA receptors, neurotransmitter release</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Antioxidant defense</td>
<td
TMEM163 Gene
Introduction
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">TMEM163 Gene</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Symbol</td>
<td>TMEM163</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>TMEM163 (Transmembrane Protein 163)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosomal Location</td>
<td>2p21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene ID</td>
<td>617037</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td>617037</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl ID</td>
<td>ENSG00000169908</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>Q8WXX3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td>Parkinson's Disease, Metal Homeostasis Disorders</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Feature</td>
<td>Description</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">N-terminal domain</td>
<td>Cytoplasmic, ~50 amino acids</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Transmembrane segments</td>
<td>6-8 predicted TM helices</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Extracellular loops</td>
<td>Variable length</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">C-terminal domain</td>
<td>Cytoplasmic</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Process</td>
<td>Role of Zinc</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Synaptic transmission</td>
<td>Modulates NMDA receptors, neurotransmitter release</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Antioxidant defense</td>
<td>Component of superoxide dismutase (SOD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene regulation</td>
<td>Transcription factor co-activator</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein structure</td>
<td>Zinc finger domains in numerous proteins</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Apoptosis regulation</td>
<td>Pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Strategy</td>
<td>Rationale</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene therapy</td>
<td>Restore function in deficiency</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Metal modulators</td>
<td>Adjust cellular metal levels</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein stabilizers</td>
<td>Enhance mutant protein function</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Metal chelation</td>
<td>Remove excess metals</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ion channel modulators</td>
<td>Adjust ion flux</td>
</tr>
</table>
Tmem163 Gene is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Overview
Function
TMEM163 is a transmembrane protein primarily expressed in the brain and endocrine tissues. Genetic studies have implicated TMEM163 in Parkinson's disease risk, and functional studies suggest it may be involved in metal ion transport and cellular homeostasis. Altered metal homeostasis is a well-documented feature of several neurodegenerative diseases.
Normal Function
The TMEM163 gene encodes a protein that plays important roles in cellular homeostasis, protein quality control, and signal transduction. Understanding its normal function provides insight into how dysregulation contributes to disease.
Brain Expression
This gene is expressed in various brain regions with particular enrichment in areas affected in neurodegenerative diseases:
- Cerebral [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex)
- [Hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus)
- Basal ganglia
- Brainstem nuclei
Disease Associations
Parkinson's Disease
The TMEM163 gene has been implicated in Parkinson's Disease through genetic association studies and functional analyses. Variants may affect protein function or expression, leading to altered cellular phenotypes.
Disease Mechanisms
- Altered protein quality control pathways
- Dysregulated lipid or metal homeostasis
- Impaired cellular stress responses
Therapeutic Targeting
Current Approaches
Research is ongoing to develop therapeutic strategies targeting TMEM163 pathways:
- Gene therapy approaches
- Small molecule modulators
- Protein replacement strategies
Drug Development Challenges
- Delivery across the [blood-brain barrier](/entities/blood-brain-barrier)
- Targeting specific neuronal populations
- Understanding normal versus pathological functions
Key Publications
External Links
The protein localizes to cellular membranes, with particular enrichment in intracellular compartments involved in metal ion trafficking.
Protein Structure and Function
Structural Features
TMEM163 is predicted to be a multi-pass transmembrane protein with the following architectural features:
The protein is predicted to form a channel or transporter structure capable of mediating metal ion movement across cellular membranes.
Molecular Function
Based on structural predictions and functional studies, TMEM163 may function as:
- Ion channel: Facilitating passive diffusion of metal ions across membranes
- Ion transporter: Active transport of metal ions using cellular energy
- Ion exchanger: Exchanging one ion for another (e.g., H+/Zn2+)
- Ion sensor: Detecting and responding to metal ion concentrations
The protein appears to play a role in zinc and/or manganese handling, metals critical for neuronal function and vulnerable in neurodegenerative processes.
Metal Homeostasis in Neurodegeneration
Zinc in the Brain
Zinc is essential for neuronal function:
Manganese in Neurodegeneration
Manganese homeostasis is critical for:
- Mitochondrial function
- Antioxidant enzyme activity (MnSOD)
- Protein glycosylation
- Neurotransmitter synthesis
Dysregulation of either metal contributes to Parkinson's disease, ALS, and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Disease Associations
Parkinson's Disease
TMEM163 variants have been implicated in Parkinson's disease risk through genetic studies. The potential mechanisms include:
- Altered dopaminergic neuron function
- Metal homeostasis disruption
- Mitochondrial function modification
- Protein aggregation susceptibility
Genetic association studies have identified variants near the TMEM163 locus that modify PD risk, though the precise causal variant remains under investigation.
Metal Homeostasis Disorders
Given TMEM163's role in metal ion handling, dysregulation may contribute to:
- Wilson's disease: Copper overload affecting liver and brain
- Manganese metabolism disorders: Accumulation in basal ganglia
- Zinc deficiency states: Cognitive impairment, immune dysfunction
- Acrodermatitis enteropathica: Zinc absorption defects
Pathogenic Mechanisms
Mitochondrial Dysfunction
TMEM163 variants may affect mitochondrial function through:
Protein Quality Control
Metal ion dysregulation impacts protein homeostasis:
- Misfolded protein accumulation
- Impaired ubiquitin-proteasome system
- Altered autophagy-lysosome pathway
- Increased aggregation susceptibility
ER Stress Response
The endoplasmic reticulum is sensitive to metal imbalance:
- Unfolded protein response activation
- Calcium homeostasis disruption
- Lipid metabolism alterations
- Apoptotic pathway engagement
Therapeutic Approaches
Targeting TMEM163 therapeutically presents challenges due to limited understanding of its precise function. Potential approaches include:
Challenges in Drug Development
Research Directions
Key questions remain regarding TMEM163:
- Precise molecular function and substrates
- Regulation of expression and activity
- Interaction partners in cellular pathways
- Therapeutic targeting feasibility
- Biomarker development for patient selection
Key Publications
See Also
- [VCP Protein](/wiki/proteins-vcp) — regulates
- [TOLLIP — Toll-Interacting Protein](/wiki/genes-tollip) — regulates
Pathway Diagram
The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving TMEM163 Gene discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis:
▸Metadataorigin_type: v1_polymorphic_backfill
| slug | genes-tmem |
| kg_node_id | TMEM |
| entity_type | gene |
| origin_type | v1_polymorphic_backfill |
| source_table | wiki_pages |
| wiki_page_id | wp-bb7cd6baa9a0 |
| __merged_from | {'merged_at': '2026-05-13', 'unprefixed_id': 'genes-tmem'} |
| _schema_version | 1 |
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