KYNU Gene

Name	kynureninase
Description	Kynureninase is a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (pyridoxal-P) dependent enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of L-kynurenine and L-3-hydroxykynurenine into anthranilic and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acids, respectively. Kynureninase is involved in the biosynthesis of NAD cofactors from tryptophan through the kynurenine pathway. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2010]
Summary	{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Kynureninase (KYNU) is a key enzyme in the kynurenine branch of tryptophan metabolism that appears to play diverse roles in human pathophysiology by modulating immune and inflammatory responses as well as cell proliferation. In inflammatory conditions, KYNU is markedly upregulated in chronic skin diseases, and its expression correlates with increased inflammatory signaling – suggesting that it may serve as a functional switch between immunosuppressive and pro‐inflammatory outcomes."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " In the context of cancer, studies in breast tumors have found that high KYNU expression is positively associated with differentiation markers (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and E-cadherin) and inversely related to tumor grade and proliferative indicators. Experimentally, overexpression of KYNU inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and growth in xenograft models, consistent with a tumor‐suppressive role."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "2"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n In psoriasis, increased levels of KYNU in lesional skin have been linked to elevated production of inflammatory cytokines. Functional studies demonstrate that knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition of KYNU in keratinocytes reduces the secretion of pro‐inflammatory mediators, and its expression is regulated by a skin‐specific microRNA (miR-203a), highlighting a potential therapeutic target for this chronic inflammatory disorder."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "3"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Genetic evidence further implicates KYNU in the regulation of vascular homeostasis; rare variants within the KYNU gene have been associated with altered enzyme activity and increased blood pressure, a finding supported by linkage studies in hypertensive populations."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "4"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n In an unexpected role, KYNU is also expressed as a 48‐kDa protein (p48 KYNU) that bears an epitope recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV‐1 gp41. This circulating form can interfere with antibody‐mediated virus neutralization assays, thereby impacting the interpretation of immune responses against HIV."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "6"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Finally, deletion of KYNU has been described as part of contiguous gene deletions in syndromic conditions such as Mowat–Wilson syndrome, indicating that loss of KYNU may contribute to the complex phenotypes observed in these disorders."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "7"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Collectively, these studies underscore the multifaceted functions of KYNU – ranging from modulating inflammation and immune responses to influencing tumor growth, vascular regulation, and even antiviral assay outcomes – and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target across multiple disease settings.\n "}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Jamie L Harden, Steven M Lewis, Samantha R Lish, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "The tryptophan metabolism enzyme L-kynureninase is a novel inflammatory factor in psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Allergy Clin Immunol (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.jaci.2015.09.055"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2015.09.055"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "26725996"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26725996"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 2, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Yingzhe Liu, Xueping Feng, Jinping Lai, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "A novel role of kynureninase in the growth control of breast cancer cells and its relationships with breast cancer."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Cell Mol Med (2019)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1111/jcmm.14547"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.14547"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "31332944"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31332944"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 3, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Min Wang, Yuqian Wang, Mengdi Zhang, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Kynureninase contributes to the pathogenesis of psoriasis through pro-inflammatory effect."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Cell Physiol (2022)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1002/jcp.30587"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.30587"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "34553380"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34553380"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 4, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Yi Zhang, Jie Shen, Xin He, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "A rare variant at the KYNU gene is associated with kynureninase activity and essential hypertension in the Han Chinese population."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Circ Cardiovasc Genet (2011)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.110.959064"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.110.959064"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "22012986"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22012986"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 5, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Yi Zhang, Kui-xing Zhang, Xin He, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "[A polymorphism of kynureninase gene in a hypertensive candidate chromosomal region is associated with essential hypertension]."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi (2005)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "16080802"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16080802"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 6, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Vladimir Morozov, Sylvie Lagaye, Alexey Morozov "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "The TZM-bl Reporter Cell Line Expresses Kynureninase That Can Neutralize 2F5-like Antibodies in the HIV-1 Neutralization Assay."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Int J Mol Sci (2022)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.3390/ijms23020641"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23020641"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "35054825"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35054825"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 7, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "R Smigiel, A Szafranska, M Czyzewska, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Severe clinical course of Hirschsprung disease in a Mowat-Wilson syndrome patient."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Appl Genet (2010)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1007/BF03195718"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03195718"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "20145308"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20145308"}]}]}]}
Synonyms	KYNUU, VCRL2
Proteins	KYNU_HUMAN
NCBI Gene ID	8942
API
Download Associations
Predicted Functions
Co-expressed Genes
Expression in Tissues and Cell Lines

Functional Associations

KYNU has 14,495 functional associations with biological entities spanning 8 categories (molecular profile, organism, chemical, disease, phenotype or trait, functional term, phrase or reference, structural feature, cell line, cell type or tissue, gene, protein or microRNA) extracted from 120 datasets.

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

If available, associations are ranked by standardized value

Harmonizome 3.0

KYNU 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 KYNU 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 KYNU 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 KYNU 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 KYNU 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 KYNU gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of KYNU 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 KYNU 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 KYNU 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 KYNU 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 KYNU gene from the Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of KYNU 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 KYNU gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Proteomics	Cell lines associated with KYNU protein from the CCLE Cell Line Proteomics dataset.
	CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations	cell types associated with KYNU 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 KYNU gene from the CHEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of KYNU 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 KYNU gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022 dataset.
	ClinVar Gene-Phenotype Associations	phenotypes associated with KYNU gene from the curated ClinVar Gene-Phenotype Associations dataset.
	ClinVar Gene-Phenotype Associations 2025	phenotypes associated with KYNU gene from the curated ClinVar Gene-Phenotype Associations 2025 dataset.
	CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules	small molecule perturbations changing expression of KYNU gene from the CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing KYNU protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing KYNU protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components co-occuring with KYNU 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 KYNU protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of KYNU gene relative to other cell lines from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles	cell lines with KYNU gene mutations from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles dataset.
	CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions	chemicals interacting with KYNU gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions dataset.
	CTD Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with KYNU gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	dbGAP Gene-Trait Associations	traits associated with KYNU gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the dbGAP Gene-Trait Associations dataset.
	DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency	cell lines with fitness changed by KYNU gene knockdown relative to other cell lines from the DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency dataset.
	DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases associated with KYNU gene in GWAS datasets from the DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores	diseases co-occuring with KYNU 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 KYNU 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 KYNU gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	DisGeNET Gene-Phenotype Associations	phenotypes associated with KYNU gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the DisGeNET Gene-Phenoptype Associations dataset.
	DrugBank Drug Targets	interacting drugs for KYNU protein from the curated DrugBank Drug Targets dataset.
	ENCODE Histone Modification Site Profiles	histone modification site profiles with high histone modification abundance at KYNU 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 KYNU gene from the ENCODE Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ENCODE Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of KYNU 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 KYNU from the ESCAPE Omics Signatures of Genes and Proteins for Stem Cells dataset.