Shisa8, also known as CKAMP39, is a member of the cystine-knot AMPA receptor-modulating proteins (CKAMPs) family. It influences the trafficking, subcellular localization, and function of AMPA receptors, which are assembled of four core subunits and several interacting proteins. This function is crucial in neural function-related biological processes [1].

Integrated multi-omics analysis of Antarctic expeditioners identified Shisa8 as a potential key regulatory hub in modulating human sleep-wake activity under the unique Antarctic light environment. The study found that during austral winter, expeditioners had sleep disruptions, and through correlation and causal mediation analysis, Shisa8 was revealed as a novel candidate gene involved in this process [2].

In the study of lateral branch nephrogenesis, Shisa8 was identified as a new, age-specific marker in rhesus macaque nephron progenitor cells (NPCs), and its expression was verified in late-gestation human archival samples. This shows that the rhesus macaque can serve as a model for understanding human lateral branch nephrogenesis at the molecular level [3].

In conclusion, Shisa8 is important for the regulation of AMPA receptor function, potentially involved in the modulation of sleep-wake activity under unique light conditions, and is a marker in nephron progenitor cells during late-gestation nephrogenesis. These findings from different research models contribute to understanding its role in neural function, sleep-related disorders, and kidney development.