senataxin
Last updated 18 Aug 2020
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The SETX gene provides instructions for making a protein called senataxin. Senataxin is produced in a wide range of tissues, including the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. Based on the structure of senataxin, researchers believe that it is one of a class of proteins called helicases, which attach to particular regions of DNA or RNA (a chemical cousin of DNA) and temporarily unwind the strands of the molecule. By unwinding the strands, helicases allow other proteins to reach the strands to perform their function. Although senataxin's role in cells is not completely understood, it appears to be involved in the production of proteins from genes (transcription), the processing of RNA molecules, and the repair of damaged DNA.
Normal function
The SETX gene provides instructions for making a protein called senataxin. Senataxin is produced in a wide range of tissues, including the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. Based on the structure of senataxin, researchers believe that it is one of a class of proteins called helicases, which attach to particular regions of DNA or RNA (a chemical cousin of DNA) and temporarily unwind the strands of the molecule. By unwinding the strands, helicases allow other proteins to reach the strands to perform their function. Although senataxin's role in cells is not completely understood, it appears to be involved in the production of proteins from genes (transcription), the processing of RNA molecules, and the repair of damaged DNA.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
ALS4
AOA2
KIAA0625
SCAR1
Sen1
SETX_HUMAN
Further reading and references
- senataxin; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Becherel OJ, Yeo AJ, Stellati A, Heng EY, Luff J, Suraweera AM, Woods R, Fleming J, Carrie D, McKinney K, Xu X, Deng C, Lavin MF. Senataxin plays an essential role with DNA damage response proteins in meiotic recombination and gene silencing. PLoS Genet. 2013 Apr;9(4):e1003435. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003435. Epub 2013 Apr 11.
- Bennett CL, La Spada AR. Unwinding the role of senataxin in neurodegeneration. Discov Med. 2015 Feb;19(103):127-36.
- Chen YZ, Bennett CL, Huynh HM, Blair IP, Puls I, Irobi J, Dierick I, Abel A, Kennerson ML, Rabin BA, Nicholson GA, Auer-Grumbach M, Wagner K, De Jonghe P, Griffin JW, Fischbeck KH, Timmerman V, Cornblath DR, Chance PF. DNA/RNA helicase gene mutations in a form of juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS4). Am J Hum Genet. 2004 Jun;74(6):1128-35. doi: 10.1086/421054. Epub 2004 Apr 21.
- Ferraiuolo L, Kirby J, Grierson AJ, Sendtner M, Shaw PJ. Molecular pathways of motor neuron injury in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol. 2011 Nov;7(11):616-30. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2011.152.
- Fogel BL, Perlman S. Novel mutations in the senataxin DNA/RNA helicase domain in ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 2. Neurology. 2006 Dec 12;67(11):2083-4. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000247661.19601.28. No abstract available.
- Groh M, Albulescu LO, Cristini A, Gromak N. Senataxin: Genome Guardian at the Interface of Transcription and Neurodegeneration. J Mol Biol. 2017 Oct 27;429(21):3181-3195. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.10.021. Epub 2016 Oct 19.
- Le Ber I, Bouslam N, Rivaud-Pechoux S, Guimaraes J, Benomar A, Chamayou C, Goizet C, Moreira MC, Klur S, Yahyaoui M, Agid Y, Koenig M, Stevanin G, Brice A, Durr A. Frequency and phenotypic spectrum of ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 2: a clinical and genetic study in 18 patients. Brain. 2004 Apr;127(Pt 4):759-67. doi: 10.1093/brain/awh080. Epub 2004 Jan 21.
- Moreira MC, Klur S, Watanabe M, Nemeth AH, Le Ber I, Moniz JC, Tranchant C, Aubourg P, Tazir M, Schols L, Pandolfo M, Schulz JB, Pouget J, Calvas P, Shizuka-Ikeda M, Shoji M, Tanaka M, Izatt L, Shaw CE, M'Zahem A, Dunne E, Bomont P, Benhassine T, Bouslam N, Stevanin G, Brice A, Guimaraes J, Mendonca P, Barbot C, Coutinho P, Sequeiros J, Durr A, Warter JM, Koenig M. Senataxin, the ortholog of a yeast RNA helicase, is mutant in ataxia-ocular apraxia 2. Nat Genet. 2004 Mar;36(3):225-7. doi: 10.1038/ng1303. Epub 2004 Feb 8.
- Nanetti L, Cavalieri S, Pensato V, Erbetta A, Pareyson D, Panzeri M, Zorzi G, Antozzi C, Moroni I, Gellera C, Brusco A, Mariotti C. SETX mutations are a frequent genetic cause of juvenile and adult onset cerebellar ataxia with neuropathy and elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2013 Aug 14;8:123. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-8-123.
- Suraweera A, Becherel OJ, Chen P, Rundle N, Woods R, Nakamura J, Gatei M, Criscuolo C, Filla A, Chessa L, Fusser M, Epe B, Gueven N, Lavin MF. Senataxin, defective in ataxia oculomotor apraxia type 2, is involved in the defense against oxidative DNA damage. J Cell Biol. 2007 Jun 18;177(6):969-79. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200701042. Epub 2007 Jun 11.
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