DOK7

The protein encoded by this gene is essential for neuromuscular synaptogenesis. The protein functions in aneural activation of muscle-specific receptor kinase, which is required for postsynaptic differentiation, and in the subsequent clustering of the acetylcholine receptor in myotubes. This protein can also induce autophosphorylation of muscle-specific receptor kinase. Mutations in this gene are a cause of familial limb-girdle myasthenia autosomal recessive, which is also known as congenital myasthenic syndrome type 1B. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2009]

Full Name

Docking Protein 7

Function

Probable muscle-intrinsic activator of MUSK that plays an essential role in neuromuscular synaptogenesis. Acts in aneural activation of MUSK and subsequent acetylcholine receptor (AchR) clustering in myotubes. Induces autophosphorylation of MUSK.

Biological Process

Neuromuscular junction development Source: GO_Central
Positive regulation of protein tyrosine kinase activity Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Cell membrane; Synapse. Accumulates at neuromuscular junctions.

Involvement in disease

Myasthenic syndrome, congenital, 10 (CMS10):
A form of congenital myasthenic syndrome, a group of disorders characterized by failure of neuromuscular transmission, including pre-synaptic, synaptic, and post-synaptic disorders that are not of autoimmune origin. Clinical features are easy fatigability and muscle weakness affecting the axial and limb muscles (with hypotonia in early-onset forms), the ocular muscles (leading to ptosis and ophthalmoplegia), and the facial and bulbar musculature (affecting sucking and swallowing, and leading to dysphonia). The symptoms fluctuate and worsen with physical effort. CMS10 is an autosomal recessive, post-synaptic form characterized by a typical 'limb girdle' pattern of muscle weakness with small, simplified neuromuscular junctions but normal acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase function.
Fetal akinesia deformation sequence 3 (FADS3):
A clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders with congenital malformations related to impaired fetal movement. Clinical features include fetal akinesia, intrauterine growth retardation, polyhydramnios, arthrogryposis, pulmonary hypoplasia, craniofacial abnormalities, and cryptorchidism. FADS3 inheritance is autosomal recessive.