Overview:

NEK9 is a member of the NEK family and has high homology to NEK1, NEK3 and NEK4. NEK9 is activated during mitosis and binds specifically to RAN GTPase and is a substrate for CDC2 phosphorylation (1). NEK9 plays a role in the control of mitotic progression and is regulated by CDC2 and RAN GTPase. Overexpression of both active and inactive variants of NEK9 is toxic to cells and inhibits cell division causing abnormal nuclear morphologies. NEK9 can catalyze the phosphorylation of recombinant NEK6 and NEK7 in vitro leading to its activation. This suggests that NEK9 may be responsible for activation of NEK6 and NEK7 during mitosis (2).

Gene Aliases:

NEK8, NERCC, NERCC1, MGC16714, MGC138306, DKFZp434D0935

Genbank Number:

NM_033116

References:

1. Roig J, et al: Nercc1, a mammalian NIMA-family kinase, binds the Ran GTPase and regulates mitotic progression. Genes Dev. 16: 1640-1658, 2002.

2. Belham C, et al: A mitotic cascade of NIMA family kinases: Nercc1/Nek9 activates the Nek6 and Nek7 kinases. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 34897-34909, 2003.