Transmembrane protein 41A (TMEM41A)

Transmembrane protein 41A (TMEM41A) is a multipass integral membrane protein that belongs to the family of transmembrane proteins (TMEMs), a group involved in a variety of cellular processes including membrane transport, signaling, and homeostasis. TMEM41A is widely expressed in mammalian tissues and is predominantly localized to cellular and organelle membranes. Recent studies have demonstrated that TMEM41A is overexpressed in several cancers, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and endometrial carcinoma, and that high expression is significantly correlated with poor prognosis, advanced tumor stage, and increased metastasis[2][3]. TMEM41A promotes tumorigenesis by enhancing cell migration and invasion through mechanisms such as regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and modulation of tumor cell autophagy[3]. In cancer settings, TMEM41A expression correlates with changes in tumor immune microenvironment, including variation in immune cell infiltration and immune marker expression[2][3]. As a result, TMEM41A has emerged as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in oncology, though no approved drugs or direct small-molecule inhibitors are yet described. Although TMEM41A is a member of the broader TMEM protein family, its individual physiological and pathological functions remain under investigation and it is not classified as an enzyme, transporter, or receptor in the canonical sense. Its utility as a biomarker and emerging cancer target has been highlighted in recent oncological research[2][3].

Other names

TMEM41AUNQ168/PRO194MGC153972900010K02Riktransmembrane protein 41A