Tankyrases and Their Binding Proteins: Origins of Their Roles in Diverse Cellular Pathways

Tankyrases (TNKS1 and TNKS2) are multifunctional enzymes of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family that regulate cellular homeostasis by catalyzing poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and stabilizing protein-protein interactions through their ankyrin repeat clusters. By engaging with diverse sets of proteins, TNKSs act as central hubs that coordinate signaling and metabolic pathways. In this review, we discuss how TNKS -protein interactions underpin their roles across multiple biological pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, YAP and SRC signaling, mTORC1 signaling, DNA damage repair (via PARP crosstalk and recruitment of repair factors), telomere maintenance, cell-cycle regulation, glucose metabolism, cytoskeleton rearrangement, autophagy, proteasomal degradation, and apoptosis. We highlight the structural basis of these interactions, emphasizing ankyrin repeat domain recognition motifs and the consequences of TNKS-mediated PARylation on protein stability and localization. By integrating findings from oncology, virology, and metabolism, we illustrate how TNKS functions as a nodal regulator linking genome stability, signaling fidelity, and metabolic control. The interplay between TNKS and these varied pathways is essential for the well-being of the organism, with its dysregulation having severe biological and clinical consequences, which are discussed here. Finally, we consider therapeutic implications of disrupting TNKS-protein interactions, with particular attention paid to selective small-molecule inhibitors and their translational potential in cancer, viral infections, and degenerative diseases.