Cytoskeletal Scaffolding
Gene co-expression module in Smooth muscle cells
| Category | Cytoskeletal |
|---|---|
| Genes | 17 |
| Annotation certainty | 3 of 5 |
| Annotation consistency | 9 of 17 genes have a known function matching the annotation |
Why this annotation
Dominated by membrane-cytoskeleton scaffolding and adaptor proteins characteristic of differentiated smooth muscle: UTRN and SSPN (utrophin/sarcospan, dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex at the costamere/dense plaque), AKAP6 (PKA anchoring at membrane compartments), CTTNBP2 (cortactin-binding, actin scaffolding), IQGAP1 (actin/Rho scaffold), KIF13A (kinesin-3 vesicle transport along microtubules), liprin-beta family PPFIBP1/PPFIBP2 (focal-adhesion/LAR scaffolds), PTPRK (adherens-junction phosphatase) and PLCB1 (Gq-PLCbeta signaling upstream of contraction). DACT3 and NTF3 point to a differentiated/quiescent mural-cell state. Coherence is moderate and several members are promiscuous, but the unifying theme is cytoskeletal-membrane scaffolding rather than active contraction or ECM output. Distinct from the IEG module M2, with which it likely shares an overall transcript-complexity/cell-state axis.
Genes
AKAP6, C3orf70, CNST, CTTNBP2, DACT3, IQGAP1, KIF13A, KLHL23, NTF3, PLCB1, PPFIBP1, PPFIBP2, PTPRK, RASAL2, SSPN, THOC2, UTRN
Most correlated modules
- Notch-TGFbeta Signaling · correlation 0.72
- Lipid Kinase Signaling · correlation 0.67
- Wnt-Notch Modulation · correlation 0.67
- Pericyte Signature · correlation 0.67
- BAG3-HSPB8 proteostasis · correlation 0.66
- Immediate Early Response · correlation 0.58
Module annotations were drafted by a large language model from the module's genes, then reviewed and approved by a domain expert. See sources & licences.