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TRANSKETOLASE-LIKE-1 (TKTL1)

Game-Changing gene opens up new possibilities in research and diagnostics

TKTL1. Also known as transketolase-like-1, a gene that was discovered in 1995 by Dr. Johannes Coy and to which no great importance was attributed for a long time, is increasingly becoming the focus of current scientific discourse. It is now clear that TKTL1 controls the cell cycle, is responsible for the development of cognitive abilities which enabled Homo sapiens to overtake Neanderthals, and is also accountable for dangerous cell proliferation in cancer.

TKTL1 has become the focus of much research and is not likely to disappear any time soon.

TKTL1.com tries to keep up with the rapid developments regarding TKTL1, to present the current state of research and to classify the key gene TKTL1 socially and medically. Our goal is to provide a central point of exchange and information for all the brilliant minds working on and reporting about TKTL1 and for all those who simply want to learn more about this gamechanging gene.

Evolutionary Key Gene with Unexpected Potential

Svente Pääbo

Bildquelle: ©Frank Vinken

The 2022 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Swedish physician and biologist Svante Pääbo. He managed to sequence the complete genome of a Neanderthal. So far, so interesting. One of the truly groundbreaking findings here is that it was a mutation on the TKTL1 gene that led to a crucial change in brain development which distinguishes modern humans from Neanderthals. Even before the Nobel Prize was announced in September, a study on a blood test was published in May 2022:

Svente Pääbo

Prof. Dr. Svante Pääbo | Image Source: ©Frank Vinken

The study concluded that the blood test under review was capable of providing indicators of cancer – for nearly all types of cancer – and thus identifying people who would benefit from imaging studies to detect cancer or precancerous lesions. This is a potentially revolutionary result for early cancer detection as well as for cancer treatment options and survival rates. What the blood test detects? TKTL1. If it is present in elevated concentrations in immune cells, the blood test is considered conspicuous.

TKTL1 News

TKTL1 News

TKTL1 in Detail

TKTL1 in Detail

TKTL1 Pioneers

Svente Pääbo

Image Source: ©Frank Vinken

Prof. Dr. Svante Pääbo

Svante Pääbo is a Swedish biologist and geneticist known for his pioneering contributions to the study of the human genome and human evolution. He sequenced the Neanderthal genome, gaining insights into the interbreeding of Neanderthals and modern humans. He received numerous awards, most recently the Nobel Prize in Medicine, and revolutionized our understanding of human evolution.

For his research, he defined exactly which genes were present in both Neanderthals and modern humans but had undergone a mutation. Thus, he identified TKTL1 as one of the key genes for human brain development.

Dr. Johannes Coy

Dr. Johannes Coy

Dr. Johannes Coy is a German biologist and cancer researcher who discovered the TKTL1 and DNaseX genes in the 1990s. He suspected even then that the two genes could be potential markers for cancer and was involved in the development of a corresponding blood test.

Professor Wieland Huttner

Image Source: ©Max-Planck-Institut

Prof. Dr. Wieland Huttner

The German physician, neurologist and biochemist Wieland Huttner and his team discovered the mutation on the TKTL1 gene that distinguishes us modern humans from Neanderthals. The study on this, published in “Science” in September 2022, shows that the “new” variation of the TKTL1 gene, called “modern human TKTL1” in the paper, leads to greater neurogenesis in the developing human neocortex than the “archaic” version of our ancestors. The basis for this research was the decoding of the complete Neanderthal genome by Svante Pääbo.