EMC9

EMC9 is a component of the ER membrane protein complex (EMC), which mediates correct topogenesis of transmembrane proteins; depletion of EMC9 in Xenopus tropicalis disrupts neural crest development and craniofacial cartilage formation, phenocopying loss of EMC1 (PMID:37318954). Beyond this single loss-of-function study, no further molecular or biochemical detail of EMC9 has been characterized in the available corpus.

1. 2023 Medium

   It was unknown whether EMC9 contributes to a defined developmental process; morpholino depletion established that EMC9, like other EMC subunits, is required for neural crest and craniofacial development consistent with a role in membrane protein topogenesis.

   Evidence Morpholino-based loss-of-function depletion in Xenopus tropicalis with craniofacial/neural crest phenotypic readouts

   PMID:37318954

   Open questions at the time

   • No direct biochemical demonstration of EMC9 within the EMC complex in this system
   • Specific transmembrane client proteins dependent on EMC9 not identified
   • Single lab, single method without reciprocal or rescue validation reported

• The molecular activity of EMC9 within the EMC, its direct interaction partners, structural arrangement, and the substrate proteins whose insertion it supports remain uncharacterized in the available corpus.
• No defined molecular function or catalytic role assigned to EMC9
• No structural or biochemical characterization of EMC9's position in the EMC
• No human disease association established in the timeline