TKTL1
Developmental stage
Isoform 4
Expressed in fetal neocortex, with highest expression in the developing frontal lobe. Expression increases with development from 9 to at least 17 postconception weeks (PCW). At 11 PCW, expression in frontal lobe is detectable in the ventricular zone and subventricular zone. At PCW 17, highly expressed in the frontal lobe of fetal neocortex, but not in the occipital lobe.
Function
Catalyzes the transfer of a two-carbon ketol group from a ketose donor to an aldose acceptor, via a covalent intermediate with the cofactor thiamine pyrophosphate.
Isoform 4
During fetal neocortex development, may be essential to maintain the full number of basal radial glia (bRG). bRG are neural progenitor cells that undergo asymmetric divisions, generating a bRG (self-renewal) and a neuron, in contrast to basal intermediate progenitors (bIPs), which typically divide once to give rise to 2 neurons. bRG generate more cortical neurons over time than bIPs.
Sequence Similarities
Belongs to the transketolase family.
Tissue Specificity
Widely expressed (PubMed:8838793). Expressed in endothelial cells and in peripheral neurons (at protein level) (PubMed:15991799).
Isoform 3
Not expressed in fetal neocortex.
Isoform 4
Expressed in fetal neocortex.
Cellular localization
- Cytoplasm
Alternative names
TKR, TKT2, TKTL1, Transketolase-like protein 1, Transketolase 2, Transketolase-related protein, TK 2