CHUK

protein-coding

component of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase complex, the group of I kappa B kinases|IKK complex

Gene summary

This gene encodes a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family. The encoded protein, a component of a cytokine-activated protein complex that is an inhibitor of the essential transcription factor NF-kappa-B complex, phosphorylates sites that trigger the degradation of the inhibitor via the ubiquination pathway, thereby activating the transcription factor. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Previous symbols:
  • TCF16

MANE transcript

NM_001278.5

Inheritance

AR

ClinVar variants

P:7U:103B:68

Top phenotype

Fetal encasement syndrome (Cocoon syndrome); Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 2

gnomAD constraint

pLI —, LoF o/e 0.15

Max pathogenic AF

—

Genomic locus

chr10:100,188,300-100,229,596

External References & Databases

Transcript & Mutation Effects

hg38 • Region Span ~41.3 kb
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GenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations

Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns

cocoon syndromeMODERATE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0013334

Submitter: Ambry Genetics

cocoon syndromeSTRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0013334

Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)

Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 2MODERATE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0859154

Submitter: Ambry Genetics

cocoon syndromeSUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0013334

Submitter: Orphanet

cocoon syndromeDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0013334

Submitter: G2P

Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 2MODERATE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0859154

Submitter: ClinGen

*CHUK* was first reported in relation to autosomal recessive inheritance in Cocoon syndrome in 2010 (Lahtela et al ., PMID: 20961246) and Popliteal pteryium syndrome, Bartoscas-Papas type 2 in 2015 (Leslie et al., PMID: 25691407). The first reporting of a *CHUK* variant with symptoms of hypogammaglobinemia was in 2017 (Khandelwal et al., PMID:28513979) however only one pathogenic variant was found. The second pathogenic variant was identified in the proband documented in a current pre-print article by Riller et al., (PMID: 38798321). Per criteria outlined by the ClinGen Lumping and Splitting Working Group, we found no difference in molecular mechanisms and inheritance pattern; therefore, the following disease entities have been lumped into one disease entities, Cocoon syndrome (OMIM: 613630) and Popliteal pterygium syndrome, Bartoscas-Papas type 2 (OMIM: 619339). Six variants (missense and frameshift) that have been reported in three probands in three publications (PMIDs: 29523099, 34533979, 38798321 - pre-print) are included in this curation. These probands have recurrent upper and lower respiratory infections and hypogammaglobulinemia as well as abnormal skeletal morphology. One of these probands had prenatal features including reduced fetal movements at about 32 weeks gestation, intrauterine growth restriction, and slightly low birth weight (2.375 kg). A second proband had digit anomalies observed prenatally, including hypoplasia of the thumbs, absence of the second toes, and toe syndactyly. There is insufficient evidence to establish causation of a prenatal phenotype (ClinGen Prenatal GCEP secondary contribution provided March 25, 2026). There are no documented phenotypes reported in carriers of these variants. The mechanism of pathogenicity appears to be loss of function This gene-disease relationship is also supported by experimental evidence (animal models, expression studies, rescue, and in vitro functional assays,) (PMIDs: 29523099, 34533979, 38798321-pre-print). Expression studies and in vitro functional assays show that non-canonical NF-kB signaling is impaired through the disruption of NIK binding and lack of p100 processing. Expression studies from the pre-print, Riller et al., (2024) showcases that introduction of wildtype CHUK sequence is able to rescue p100 processing and increase nuclear translocation of RELB in transduced fibroblasts (PMID:38798321-pre-print). Animal models are able to capture proband phenotypes and showcase reduced mature B cells, a severe reduction in serum IgG and IgA levels, a reduction in memory and effector T cells, inability to respond to immunization, and recurrent infections. In summary, there is moderate evidence supporting the relationship between CHUK and autosomal recessive Popliteal pteryium syndrome, Bartoscas-Papas type 2. Although more evidence is needed to support a causal role, no convincing evidence has emerged that contradicts the gene-disease relationship. This classification was approved by the ClinGen SCID-CID GCEP on the meeting date June 7th, 2024 (SOP Version 10).

Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)

Fetal encasement syndrome (Cocoon syndrome); Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 2AR

Manifestation: Cardiovascular; Craniofacial; Dermatologic; Genitourinary; Musculoskeletal; Neurologic; Pulmonary; Renal

Intervention: General

Rationale: Genetic knowledge may be beneficial related to issues such as selection of optimal supportive care, informed medical decision-making, prognostic considerations, and avoidance of unnecessary testing

Refs: 20961246; 25691407Source: CGD (NHGRI)

ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes

Reported disease conditions connected to CHUK variants in ClinVar

6 Conditions Cataloged
not providedTotal: 200
Inborn genetic diseasesTotal: 55
not specifiedTotal: 14
CHUK-related disorderTotal: 7
Cocoon syndromeTotal: 2
Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 2Total: 1

ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type

Statistics based on transcript NM_001278.5. Only rare variants are included.

We include only reliable ClinVar variants with their consequences to MANE Select, MANE Plus Clinical transcripts, or transcripts with TSL equal to 1. Click a count to filter the variants table below.

Slight differences between displayed counts and ClinVar may occur due to a different transcript/consequence chosen by our variant effect predictor, or because we classify Benign/Likely benign as Likely benign and Pathogenic/Likely pathogenic as Likely pathogenic.

EffectPLPVUSLBBSum
synonymous
2
clinvar
58
clinvar
3
clinvar
63
missense
94
clinvar
7
clinvar
101
nonsense
3
clinvar
1
clinvar
4
start loss
0
frameshift
0
splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp)
1
clinvar
2
clinvar
7
clinvar
10
Total43103653178

Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.000008055461

Loading ClinVar variants...

Transcript Catalog

Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases

Showing 4 of 26 transcripts
Transcript IDSourceProtein IDCoding ExonsMANE Status
NM_001278.5RefSeqNP_001269.321MANE Select
ENST00000370397.8EnsemblENSP00000359424.621MANE Select
NM_001320928.2RefSeqNP_001307857.120Standard
NM_001441062.1RefSeqNP_001427991.121Standard

Model Organisms & Knockout Phenotypes

Observed phenotypic effects in mouse and zebrafish models

Gene / ModelOrganismObserved Phenotype
chukDanio rerio

Structure: DEL

Quality: decreased area

abnormal

Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways

Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways

Pathways ConsensusPathDB

  • PI3K-Akt signaling pathway - Homo sapiens (human)
  • Chronic myeloid leukemia - Homo sapiens (human)
  • mTOR signaling pathway - Homo sapiens (human)
  • Adipocytokine signaling pathway - Homo sapiens (human)
  • T cell receptor signaling pathway - Homo sapiens (human)

Biological Process

  • stimulatory C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway
  • antigen processing and presentation of exogenous peptide antigen via MHC class I, TAP-dependent
  • MyD88-independent toll-like receptor signaling pathway
  • skeletal muscle contraction
  • protein phosphorylation

Molecular Function

  • protein kinase activity
  • protein serine/threonine kinase activity
  • protein binding
  • ATP binding
  • IkappaB kinase activity

Cellular Component

  • nucleoplasm
  • cytoplasm
  • cytosol
  • IkappaB kinase complex
  • cytoplasmic side of plasma membrane

gnomAD Constraint

Source: gnomAD

Gene type
protein_coding
Transcript type
protein_coding
Transcript
ENST00000370397
Coding exons
21
Length
41322
Individuals with no LoFs
125728
Homozygous LoFs
0
Heterozygous LoFs
18
Defined
125746
p
0.0000716
Z-ScoreObservedExpectedObserved/ExpectedMutation RateTotal Possible
Missense2.782423980.6080.00001954921
Missense (PolyPhen)56145.140.385821830
Synonymous0.9331171310.8960.000005961334
Loss of Function5.34746.10.1520.00000228564

Population LoF Frequency

PopulationCAFp-valueStatus
African0.0000620.000062rare
Latino/Admixed American0.0000290.000029rare
Ashkenazi Jewish00.0absent
East Asian0.0000540.000054rare
Finnish0.000140.00014rare
European (Non-Finnish)0.000110.00011rare
South Asian00.0absent
Other00.0absent

dbNSFP Gene Annotations

Source: dbNSFP

Function
FUNCTION: Serine kinase that plays an essential role in the NF- kappa-B signaling pathway which is activated by multiple stimuli such as inflammatory cytokines, bacterial or viral products, DNA damages or other cellular stresses. Acts as part of the canonical IKK complex in the conventional pathway of NF-kappa-B activation and phosphorylates inhibitors of NF-kappa-B on serine residues. These modifications allow polyubiquitination of the inhibitors and subsequent degradation by the proteasome. In turn, free NF-kappa-B is translocated into the nucleus and activates the transcription of hundreds of genes involved in immune response, growth control, or protection against apoptosis. Negatively regulates the pathway by phosphorylating the scaffold protein TAXBP1 and thus promoting the assembly of the A20/TNFAIP3 ubiquitin-editing complex (composed of A20/TNFAIP3, TAX1BP1, and the E3 ligases ITCH and RNF11). Therefore, CHUK plays a key role in the negative feedback of NF-kappa-B canonical signaling to limit inflammatory gene activation. As part of the non-canonical pathway of NF-kappa-B activation, the MAP3K14-activated CHUK/IKKA homodimer phosphorylates NFKB2/p100 associated with RelB, inducing its proteolytic processing to NFKB2/p52 and the formation of NF-kappa- B RelB-p52 complexes. In turn, these complexes regulate genes encoding molecules involved in B-cell survival and lymphoid organogenesis. Participates also in the negative feedback of the non-canonical NF-kappa-B signaling pathway by phosphorylating and destabilizing MAP3K14/NIK. Within the nucleus, phosphorylates CREBBP and consequently increases both its transcriptional and histone acetyltransferase activities. Modulates chromatin accessibility at NF-kappa-B-responsive promoters by phosphorylating histones H3 at 'Ser-10' that are subsequently acetylated at 'Lys-14' by CREBBP. Additionally, phosphorylates the CREBBP-interacting protein NCOA3. Also phosphorylates FOXO3 and may regulate this pro-apoptotic transcription factor (PubMed:15084260). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:12789342, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15084260, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17434128, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20434986, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20501937, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21765415}.;
Disease
DISEASE: Cocoon syndrome (COCOS) [MIM:613630]: A lethal syndrome characterized by multiple fetal malformations including defective face and seemingly absent limbs, which are bound to the trunk and encased under the skin. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:20961246}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.;

Recessive Scores

pRec
0.634

Intolerance Scores

LoFtool
0.345
RVIS EVS
-0.2
RVIS percentile EVS
38.98

Essentials

Essential (CRISPR)
N
Essential (CRISPR2)
N
Essential (gene trap)
N
Indispensability pred.
E
Indispensability score
0.727

Gene Damage Prediction

AllRecessiveDominant
MendelianMediumMediumMedium
Primary ImmunodeficiencyMediumMediumMedium
CancerMediumMediumMedium
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