Overview:

NEK4 or Never In Mitosis A-related kinase 4 is a serine/threonine protein kinase. Northern blot show NEK4 is expressed as 2 mRNAs of 4.0 kb and 6.8 kb in heart and several other tissues. NEK4 gene encodes an 841-amino acid polypeptide and the levels of NEK4 mRNA remain invariant throughout the cell cycle (1). Nek4 has been identified in a genetic screen as a mediator of response to Taxol (2). After Taxol treatment, NEK4 promoted microtubule outgrowth, whereas NEK4 deficiency impaired G(2)-M arrest and decreased formation of mitotic-like asters. In contrast, NEK4 deficiency sensitized cells to vincristine, which destabilizes microtubules.

Gene Aliases:

NRK2, STK2

Genbank Number:

BC063044

References:

1. Levedakou, E. N., et.al: Two novel human serine/threonine kinases with homologies to the cell cycle regulating Xenopus MO15, and NIMA kinases: cloning and characterization of their expression pattern. Oncogene 9: 1977-1988, 1994.

2. Doles, J. et al: Nek4 status differentially alters sensitivity to distinct microtubule poisons. Cancer Res. 2010 Feb 1;70(3):1033-41.