WWC1

Protein KIBRA also known as kidney and brain expressed protein (KIBRA) or WW domain-containing protein 1 (WWC1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WWC1 gene.

Research on human memory
A single nucleotide polymorphism (rs17070145) in the gene has been associated with human memory performance and cognitive ability in various studies since 2006. While no significant support for KIBRA's association with memory was found in a 2008 study with 584 subjects, the original 2006 study was replicated in a smaller sample of an elderly population in 2008 Two subsequent studies in 2009 in indicated that KIBRA is specifically associated with forgetting of non-semantic material as well as cognitive flexibility among smokers and non-smokers. KIBRA SNPs have been shown to increase hippocampal volume and affect spatial ability and scientific achievement.

Studies have also begun to investigate the role of KIBRA in Alzheimer's disease.

Interactions
KIBRA has at least 10 interaction partners, including synaptopodin, PKCζ and Dendrin, most of which modify synaptic plasticity. For instance, Dendrin is a post-synaptic protein with expression regulated by sleep deprivation. KIBRA has been shown to interact with Protein kinase Mζ.