FNTA Gene

HGNC Family	Prenyltransferase alpha subunit repeat containing (PTAR)
Name	farnesyltransferase, CAAX box, alpha
Description	Prenyltransferases can attach either a farnesyl group or a geranylgeranyl group in thioether linkage to the cysteine residue of proteins with a C-terminal CAAX box. CAAX geranylgeranyltransferase and CAAX farnesyltransferase are heterodimers that share the same alpha subunit but have different beta subunits. This gene encodes the alpha subunit of these transferases. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. Related pseudogenes have been identified on chromosomes 11 and 13. [provided by RefSeq, May 2010]
Summary	{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Farnesyltransferase, and specifically its α‐subunit (FNTA), plays a central role in the posttranslational modification process known as protein prenylation. By catalyzing the attachment of a farnesyl isoprenoid to target proteins bearing a CaaX motif, FNTA ensures proper membrane localization and activation of key signaling molecules (for example, Ras and Rac1). In Huntington’s disease models, inhibition of FNTA‐dependent prenylation has been shown to suppress mutant huntingtin toxicity, highlighting its importance in neurodegenerative processes."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Similarly, in diabetic retinopathy, elevated FNTA expression drives Rac1 prenylation, which contributes to enhanced NADPH oxidase assembly, increased reactive oxygen species generation, and subsequent mitochondrial damage."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "2"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n In the context of cancer, alterations in FNTA—either through copy number changes or aberrant expression—have been associated with aggressive tumor behavior and resistance to therapy. For example, studies in breast cancer have identified FNTA as one of several druggable targets in regions of genomic amplification"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "3"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ", and increased expression of its host gene (via circRNA‐mediated regulation) correlates with enhanced tumor invasion and chemoresistance in bladder cancer."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "4"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Beyond its role in oncogenesis, FNTA influences metabolic processes; repression of FNTA activity has been found to elevate apolipoprotein A‐I secretion from hepatocytes, suggesting a potential link to cardiovascular risk modulation."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "5"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Moreover, genetic polymorphisms in FNTA have been associated with differences in bisphosphonate‐induced changes in bone mineral density, implying a function in bone metabolism."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "6"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n FNTA’s role extends to the neuromuscular system as well; a muscle‐specific deficiency in prenyltransferase activity that includes altered FNTA function can lead to neuromuscular junction abnormalities and a myopathic phenotype characteristic of congenital myasthenic syndrome."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "7"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " In addition, evidence suggests that FNTA may serve non‐canonical functions independent of its enzymatic role in prenylation. For instance, the α‐subunit can form distinct complexes that regulate intracellular trafficking of membrane proteins through interactions with partners such as Vps4A."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "8"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Furthermore, decreased FNTA expression has been observed in neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "9"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ", and copy number variation studies have proposed FNTA as a candidate susceptibility gene in neurodevelopmental disorders."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "10"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Finally, early mechanistic studies using dominant‐negative mutants of FNTA underscored its necessity in mediating growth factor–stimulated Ras farnesylation and downstream cellular responses such as proliferation and migration."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "11"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Collectively, these findings illustrate that FNTA is a multifaceted protein whose canonical role in mediating farnesylation is pivotal for proper signal transduction and cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation of FNTA activity or expression can contribute to a wide array of pathologies—including neurodegeneration, diabetic complications, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, bone diseases, and neuromuscular abnormalities—making it a promising therapeutic target.\n "}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "John P Miller, Bridget E Yates, Ismael Al-Ramahi, et al. 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"}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Functional Regulation of an Oxidative Stress Mediator, Rac1, in Diabetic Retinopathy."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Mol Neurobiol (2019)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1007/s12035-019-01696-5"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-019-01696-5"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "31300985"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31300985"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 3, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Cathy B Moelans, Caroline M G van Maldegem, Elsken van der Wall, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Copy number changes at 8p11-12 predict adverse clinical outcome and chemo- and radiotherapy response in breast cancer."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Oncotarget (2018)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.18632/oncotarget.24904"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.24904"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "29682206"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29682206"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 4, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Jinbo Chen, Yin Sun, Zhenyu Ou, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Androgen receptor-regulated circFNTA activates KRAS signaling to promote bladder cancer invasion."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "EMBO Rep (2020)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.15252/embr.201948467"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201948467"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "32052578"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32052578"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 5, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Rebecca R Miles, William Perry, Joseph V Haas, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Genome-wide screen for modulation of hepatic apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) secretion."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Biol Chem (2013)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1074/jbc.M112.410092"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M112.410092"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "23322769"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23322769"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 6, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Álvaro Del Real, Carmen Valero, José M Olmos, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Pharmacogenetics of Osteoporosis: A Pathway Analysis of the Genetic Influence on the Effects of Antiresorptive Drugs."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Pharmaceutics (2022)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.3390/pharmaceutics14040776"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14040776"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "35456610"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35456610"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 7, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Yasmin Issop, Denisa Hathazi, Muzamil Majid Khan, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "GFPT1 deficiency in muscle leads to myasthenia and myopathy in mice."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Hum Mol Genet (2018)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1093/hmg/ddy225"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddy225"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "29905857"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29905857"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 8, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Marta H Kubala, Suzanne J Norwood, Guillermo A Gomez, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Mammalian farnesyltransferase α subunit regulates vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 4A (Vps4A)--dependent intracellular trafficking through recycling endosomes."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2015)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.10.148"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.10.148"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "26551458"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26551458"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 9, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Toni M Mueller, James H Meador-Woodruff "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Post-translational protein modifications in schizophrenia."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "NPJ Schizophr (2020)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1038/s41537-020-0093-9"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-020-0093-9"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "32123175"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32123175"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 10, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Nasna Nassir, Isra Sati, Shaiban Al Shaibani, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Detection of copy number variants and genes by chromosomal microarray in an Emirati neurodevelopmental disorders cohort."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Neurogenetics (2022)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1007/s10048-022-00689-2"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s10048-022-00689-2"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "35325322"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35325322"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 11, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "C S Solomon, M L Goalstone "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Dominant negative farnesyltransferase alpha-subunit inhibits insulin mitogenic effects."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2001)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1006/bbrc.2001.5142"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.2001.5142"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "11444820"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11444820"}]}]}]}
Synonyms	PTAR2, FPTA, PGGT1A
Proteins	FNTA_HUMAN
NCBI Gene ID	2339
API
Download Associations
Predicted Functions
Co-expressed Genes
Expression in Tissues and Cell Lines

Functional Associations

FNTA has 6,397 functional associations with biological entities spanning 9 categories (molecular profile, organism, chemical, functional term, phrase or reference, disease, phenotype or trait, structural feature, cell line, cell type or tissue, gene, protein or microRNA, sequence feature) extracted from 125 datasets.

Click the + buttons to view associations for FNTA from the datasets below.

If available, associations are ranked by standardized value

Harmonizome 3.0

FNTA Gene

Functional Associations

Please acknowledge the Harmonizome in your publications by citing the following reference(s):

	Dataset	Summary
	Achilles Cell Line Gene Essentiality Profiles	cell lines with fitness changed by FNTA gene knockdown relative to other cell lines from the Achilles Cell Line Gene Essentiality Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles	tissue samples with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray	tissue samples with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by RNA-seq	tissue samples with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by RNA-seq dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other cell lines from the BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures	small molecule perturbations changing expression of FNTA gene from the Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of FNTA gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of FNTA gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles	cell lines with FNTA gene mutations from the CCLE Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Proteomics	Cell lines associated with FNTA protein from the CCLE Cell Line Proteomics dataset.
	CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations	cell types associated with FNTA gene from the CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles	transcription factor binding site profiles with transcription factor binding evidence at the promoter of FNTA gene from the CHEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of FNTA gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022	transcription factors binding the promoter of FNTA gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022 dataset.
	CM4AI U2OS Cell Map Protein Localization Assemblies	assemblies containing FNTA protein from integrated AP-MS and IF data from the CM4AI U2OS Cell Map Protein Localization Assemblies dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing FNTA protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing FNTA protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components co-occuring with FNTA protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components co-occuring with FNTA protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	CORUM Protein Complexes	protein complexs containing FNTA protein from the CORUM Protein Complexes dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of FNTA gene relative to other cell lines from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles	cell lines with FNTA gene mutations from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles dataset.
	CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions	chemicals interacting with FNTA gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions dataset.
	CTD Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with FNTA gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	DeepCoverMOA Drug Mechanisms of Action	small molecule perturbations with high or low expression of FNTA protein relative to other small molecule perturbations from the DeepCoverMOA Drug Mechanisms of Action dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores	diseases co-occuring with FNTA gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases co-occuring with FNTA gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with FNTA gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	DrugBank Drug Targets	interacting drugs for FNTA protein from the curated DrugBank Drug Targets dataset.
	ENCODE Histone Modification Site Profiles	histone modification site profiles with high histone modification abundance at FNTA gene from the ENCODE Histone Modification Site Profiles dataset.
	ENCODE Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles	transcription factor binding site profiles with transcription factor binding evidence at the promoter of FNTA gene from the ENCODE Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ENCODE Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of FNTA gene in ChIP-seq datasets from the ENCODE Transcription Factor Targets dataset.
	ESCAPE Omics Signatures of Genes and Proteins for Stem Cells	PubMedIDs of publications reporting gene signatures containing FNTA from the ESCAPE Omics Signatures of Genes and Proteins for Stem Cells dataset.
	GAD Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with FNTA gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the GAD Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	GAD High Level Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with FNTA gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the GAD High Level Gene-Disease Associations dataset.