Target Information

NEK9, a NEK type protein kinase, regulates chromosome alignment and segregation in mitosis. The protein has a N-terminal NIMA-like catalytic domain, a central domain with homology to the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the GTPase Ran (RCC1), and a C-terminal coiled-coil domain. It is phosphorylated by active p34(Cdc2) and is capable of autophosphorylation and oligomerization. The activated protein binds Nek6 and RCC1, and has been shown to associate with the human homolog of the Drosophila protein Bicaudal D (Bicd2) in vivo and to phosphorylate this coiled-coil protein in vitro. NEK9 expression has been documented in normal human brain. ESTs have been isolated from several tissue libraries, including normal bone, lymph and thymus and cancerous cervix, eye, lymph and placenta.