KASH domains are conserved C-terminal protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 regions less than ~30 amino acid

Amino acid

Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain that varies between different amino acids. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen...

s. KASH is an acronym for Klarsicht, ANC-1, Syne Homology. KASH domains always follow a transmembrane domain. Most proteins containing KASH domains are thought to be involved in the positioning of the nucleus in the cell. It is thought that KASH domains interact with proteins containing SUN domain

SUN domain

SUN domains are conserved C-terminal protein regions a few hundred amino acids long. SUN domains are usually found following a transmembrane domain and a less conserved region of amino acids. Most proteins containing SUN domains are thought to be involved in the positioning of the nucleus in the...

s in the space between the outer and inner nuclear membranes to bridge the nuclear envelope

Nuclear envelope

A nuclear envelope is a double lipid bilayer that encloses the genetic material in eukaryotic cells. The nuclear envelope also serves as the physical barrier, separating the contents of the nucleus from the cytosol...

 and transfer force from the nucleoskeleton to the cytoplasmic cytoskeleton

Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained within a cell's cytoplasm and is made out of protein. The cytoskeleton is present in all cells; it was once thought to be unique to eukaryotes, but recent research has identified the prokaryotic cytoskeleton...

. KASH proteins are thought to largely localize to the outer nuclear membrane, although there are reports of inner nuclear membrane localization of some KASH protein isoforms.

Examples of KASH proteins

Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living, transparent nematode , about 1 mm in length, which lives in temperate soil environments. Research into the molecular and developmental biology of C. elegans was begun in 1974 by Sydney Brenner and it has since been used extensively as a model...

• UNC-83
• ANC-1
• ZYG-12

Mammals

• Nesprins-1, 2, and 3 (also called Synes, Mynes, Nuance, Enaptin)

Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...

• Klarsicht
• MSP-300