In molecular biology, housekeeping genes are typically constitutive genes that are required
for the maintenance of basic cellular function, and are expressed in all cells of an organism
under normal and patho-physiological conditions.
Although some housekeeping genes are expressed at relatively constant levels in most non-pathological
situations, other housekeeping genes may vary depending on experimental conditions.
In a study involving cardiac stem cells, ACTB and GAPDH were found to be the most consistent,
while β2M, HPRT1, and RPLP1 varied significantly between neonatal and adult cardiac cells.
The origin of the term "housekeeping gene" remains obscure.
Literature from 1976 used the term to describe specifically tRNA and rRNA.
Interpreting gene expression data can be problematic, with most human genes registering 5-10 copies
per cell.
Housekeeping genes are expressed in at least 25 copies per cell and sometimes number in
the thousands.
Other commonly used housekeeping genes are GUSB, LDHA, NONO, PGK1, PPIH, RPLP0, and TFRC.
Common housekeeping genes in human Gene Expression
Transcription Factors
ATF4 Activating transcription factor 4 BTF3
E2F4 ERH Enhancer of rudimentary homolog of drosophila
HMGB1 High mobility group box binds DNA ILF2
IER2 formerly ETR101 Immediate Early Protein JUND
LTBP4 LMO1 Rhombotin 1
MYC also considered an oncogene when mutated regulates transcription of 15% of all genes
PAX8 PHF1 Plant homology domain
PTTG1IP SREBF1 Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein
Smith Magenis TBP aka TATA-binding protein or GTF2D or TFIID
TCEB2 Elongin TCOF1 interacts with UBF to translate rRNA
Repressors ANF91, HPF7, HTF10 Kruppel Associated Box
domain ID3 inhibits DNA binding
PUF60 NFKBIA Suppresses NF-kappa
RING1 RNA Splicing
ADAR BAT1
FBL Fibrillarin HNRPD
HNRPK PTBP1
PABPN1 SFRS3
SFRS9 SFNRPA
SNRPB SNRPD
SNRPD2 SNRPG
Translation Factors EIF1 aka SUI1
EIF3C formerly EIF3S8 EIF3D formerly EIF3S4
EIF3F formerly EIF3S5 EIF3I formerly EIF3S2
EIF3G formerly EIF3S7 EIF4A2
EIF4G2 TUFM Tu translational elongation factor mitochondrial
tRNA Synthetases IARS
KARS RARS
SARS VARS2
YARS RNA Binding Protein
PABPC1 PolyA Binding Protein ELAVL3
Ribosomal Proteins RPL3
RPL5 RPL8
RPL9 RPL10
RPL11 RPL12
RPL13 RPL13A Introns contain genes for small nucleolar
RNAs U32, U33, U34, and U35 RPL14
RPL15 RPL17
RPL18 RPL19
RPL25 RPL27
RPL29 RPL30
RPL32 RPL34
RPL35 RPL36
RPL37 RPL38
RPL40 transcribed with ubiquitin) RPLP0
RPLP1 RPLP2
RPS2 RPS5
RPS9 RPS10
RPS11 RPS12
RPS13 RPS14
RPS15 RPS16
RPS18 RPS19
RPS20 RPS23
RPS24 RPS25
RPS26 RPS27 transcribed with ubiquitin)
RPS28 RPS30 transcribed with ubiquitin as the FAU
RPN1 Ribophorin anchors the ribosome to rough endoplasmic reticulum
MRPL9 RNA Polymerase
POLR2A POLR2E
POLR2J POLR2L
Protein Processing Cyclophilin A Serine-threonine phosphatase
inhibitor involved in protein folding PPIH Cyclophilin H
CANX Folding of glycoproteins within endoplasmic reticulum
CAPNS1 Calpain protease NACA Nascent polypeptide associated complex
alpha polypeptide PFDN1 Prefoldin 1
PFDN5 Prefoldin 5 SNX3 Sorting nexin
SNX17 SNX27
SSR2 Protein translocation in ER SUMO2 Protein targeting
Heat Shock Proteins HSPA8
HSP90AB1 HSBP1
Histone CDH4 Nucleosome remodeling
HIST1H2BC H2AFY Histone 2 Subfamily
H2AFZ essential for embryogenesis H3F3A H3 Histone Family
Cell Cycle ARHGAP1
ARHGDIA CENPB Centromere protein B
CTBP1 cyclophilin
CCND3 GAS1 Blocks entry into S phase
PPP2CB Negative regulator of growth and cell division
PPP2R1A Negative regulator of growth and cell division
RAD9 KIAA0174 or IST1 homolog
Apoptosis DAD1 Defender against cell death
DAP DAXX Death Associated Protein 6
Oncogenes ARAF
MAZ MYC also considered a transcription factor
SAFB RAB1A
DNA Repair/Replication Ku80 aka XRCC5
MCM3AP possibly a primase Metabolism
PRKAG1 Senses energy level and inactivates HMGCoA reductase and Acetyl CoA Carboxylase
Carbohydrate Metabolism PRKCSH Glucosidase 2, subunit beta
B4GALT2 GUSB Beta Glucuronidase Sly syndrome
Chitinase Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase
GSK3A hexokinase rate limiting step?
no reference H6PD
Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase Phosphofructokinase 1
Aldolase A Aldolase C
Triosephosphate isomerase GAPDH
PGK1 Phosphoglycerate kinase Phosphoglycerate mutase
Enolase PKM2 Pyruvate kinase, muscle
Lactate dehydrogenase LDHA Lactate dehydrogenase
LDHB Lactate dehydrogenase TALDO1 Transaldolase in pentose shunt
Transketolase TSTA3 Mannose metabolism
Citric Acid Cycle SDHA Succinate Dehydrogenase subunit A
MDH1 Malate dehydrogenase Lipid Metabolism
GM2A not highly expressed constitutively HADHA Trifunctional protein subunit alpha
HADHB Trifunctional protein subunit beta Amino Acid Metabolism
COMT Catechol-O-methyl transferase GGTLA1 Gamma glutamyl transferase-like 1
PHGDH Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase ODC1
TPMT Nucleotide Synthesis
IMPDH2 Guanine Nucleotide biosynthesis NADH Dehydrogenase
NDUFA1 NDUFA2
NDUFA7 NDUFB7
NDUFC1 NDUFS5
NDUFV2 DIA1
Cytochrome C Oxidase (Note that COX1, COX2, and COX3 are mitochondrially
encoded) COX4I1
COX5A COX5B
COX6A1 COX6B1
COX7A2L COX7C
COX8 CYC1
UQCRC1 UQCRH
UQCRQ see Cytochrome C1 ATPase
Mitochondrial ATP5A1
ATP5D ATP5G1
ATP5G3 ATP5H
ATP5I ATP5J2
ATP5O Lysosomal
ATP6IP1 ATP6V0B
ATP6V0C ATP6V1E
ATP6V1F ATP6V1G1
Lysosome CTSD can degrade insulin in hepatocytes
Cystatin B May protect cell from leaking lysosomes LAMP1
Mannose 6-phosphate receptor SGSH Mutations can cause Sanfilippo syndrome
Proteosome PSMB1
PSMB2 PSMB4
PSMB6 PSMA7
PSMB7 PSMD8
PSMD11 PSME2
UBA1 Ubiquitin B
UBE2I UBE2D2
UBE2M USP11
Ribonuclease RNH Ribonuclease inhibitor
Oxidase/Reductase TXN Thioreductase
Structural Cytoskeletal
Actinin alpha 4 ACTBBeta-actin
ACTG1 gamma actin ADD1
ANXA6 ARPC4 Actin-related protein 2/3 complex
CAPZB COL6A1
DNCL1 Cytoplasmic Dynein EZR Ezrin
KIFC3 kinesin Moesin
MYH9 Myosin chain 9 RHOA also implicated in regulation of cell
cycle SEPT1 homologus to CDC10 in S. cerevesiae
SEPT2 SLC9A3R2 Links SLC9A3 to cytoskeleton
TAGLN TAGLN2
TMSB10 Thymosin beta 10 TUBB Tubulin, beta polypeptide
TUBB4 WDR1 actin dissassembly?
Organelle Synthesis A specialized form of cell signaling
BLOC1S1 AP2M1
ANXA2 ANXA6
ANXA7 AP1B1 Coated vessicles
CLTA Clathrin A CLTB Clathrin B
GP2 enzymatic secretory granules KDELR1 Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu tag that targets to
endoplasmic reticulum Mitochondrion
MTX1 Surface
AP2S1 CD81
GPAA1 LGALS9
MGAT1 VAMP3
Cell Adhesion ADAM15
Beta-catenin CNTN1 Contactin
Delta-catenin Channels and Transporters
ABCG2 formerly BCRP1 xenobiotic transporter CALM1 Calmodulin grasps calcium ions
CALM2 Calmodulin grasps calcium ions HPCAL1 also grasps calcium; upregulated in
retina GRIK5
MFSD10 aka TETRAN or tetracycline transporter-like protein
TFRC Transferrin receptor FOLR1 Folate receptor
SLC25A11 mitochondrial oxoglutarate/malate carrier
Receptors ACVRL1 TGF Beta receptor family Rendu-Osler-Weber
syndrome CD23A FCER2 low affinity IgE receptor
GRM4 Metabotropic glutamate receptor JAG1 NOTCH2 Receptor associated with Alagille
syndrome MC2R Melanocortin receptor type 2
SSTR5 Somatostatin receptor tends to inhibit other hormones
HLACell recognition BAT1
BSG Basigin Immunoglobulin Superfamily, extracelluar metalloproteinase
B2M Beta-2 microglobulin HLA-C
HLA-G MIF macrophage migration inhibitory factor
TAPBP Kinases/Signalling
ADRBK1 can downregulate response to epinephrine AGPAT1 acyl 3 phosphoglycerol acyl transferase
ARF1 ARF3
ARF4 ARF5
ARL2 RAS Superfamily CSF1 Colony stimulating factor not highly
expressed constitutively at 5-12 CSK C-src tyrosine kinase
DCT dopachrome tautomerase EFNA3
FKBP1A GDI1 GDP Dissociation inhibitor
GNAS1 ubiquitously expressed, but differentially imprinted
GNAI2 HAX1 associated with tyrosine kinases
ILK Integrin linked kinase MAPKAPK2
MAP2K2 MAP3K11
PITPNM Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein RAC1 Ro GTPase involved with many signaling
pathways RAP1B GTPase involved with cell adhesion
RAGA Ras-related GTP Binding STK19
STK24 Serine/Threonine Kinase STK25
YWHAB Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein, beta polypeptide
YWHAH Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein, h polypeptide
YWHAQ Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein, theta
polypeptide YWHAZ Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan
5-monooxygenase activation protein, zeta polypeptide Growth Factors
AIF1 HDGF Hepatoma derived growth factor
HGS LTBP4
VEGFB ZFP36L1
Tissue Necrosis Factor CD40 formerly TNFRSF5
Casein Kinase CSNK1E
CSNK2B Miscellaneous
ALAS1 Aminolevulinic Acid Synthase type 1 ARHGEF2 Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor
ARMET Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor
AES amino terminal enhancer of split BECN1 involved in autophagy and partners with
PI3K BUD31 formerly Maternal G10 transcript
Creatine kinase CKB Cytidine deaminase questionable: not present
in very high levels at all CPNE1
ENSA FTH1 Heavy chain of Ferritin
GDI2 rab/ras vessicular trafficking GUK1 Guanylate kinase transfers phosphate
from ATP to GMP HPRT Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase
IFITM1 Induced by interferon, transmembrane protein
JTB Jumping translocation breakpoint MMPL2
NME2 Nucleoside diphosphate kinase NONO
P4HB PRDX1 peroxiredoxin
PTMA Prothymosin RPA2 Binds DNA during replication to keep
it straightened out SULT1A3 Sulfate conjugation
SYNGR2 Synaptogyrin Tetratricopeptide, TTC1 small glutamine rich
tetratricopeptide Open_reading_frame
C11Orf13 C14orf2
C21orf33 Sperm/Testis
Although this page is devoted to genes that should be ubiquitously expressed, this section
is for genes whose current name reflects their relative upregulation in testes
SPAG7 SRM Spermidine synthase
TEGT Bax-1 inhibitor DAZAP2 Deleted in azoospermia
MEA1 Male enhanced antigen See also
Inducible gene References
http:www.sagenet.orgindex.html http:www.tau.ac.ilHousekeeping_genes.html
http:www.tau.ac.ilHKG/