title: Identification and characterization of the human protein kinase-like gene NTKL: mitosis-specific centrosomal localization of an alternatively spliced isoform.
abstract: Although the centrosome has an essential role in mitosis, its molecular components have not been fully elucidated. Here, we describe the molecular cloning and characterization of the human gene NTKL, which encodes an evolutionarily conserved kinase-like protein. NTKL mRNA is found ubiquitously in human tissues. NTKL is located on 11q13 and is mapped around chromosomal breakpoints found in several carcinomas, suggesting that NTKL dysfunction may be involved in carcinogenesis. Alternative splicing generates two variant forms of NTKL mRNA that encode protein isoforms with internal deletions. When fused to green fluorescent protein, the full-length product and one of the variant proteins are found in cytoplasm. The other variant product also exists in the cytoplasm during interphase, but is found in the centrosomes during mitosis. Endogenous NTKL protein is also localized to the centrosomes during mitosis. This cell-cycle-dependent centrosomal localization suggests that NTKL is involved in centrosome-related cellular functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 170-8455, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morotomi-Yano
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miki
mesh_terms: D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C464929:SCYL1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011494:Protein Kinases