Never say never. The NIMA-related protein kinases in mitotic control.
Mitosis sees a massive reorganization of cellular architecture. The microtubule cytoskeleton is reorganized to form a bipolar spindle between duplicated microtubule organizing centers, the chromosomes are condensed, attached to the spindle at their kinetochores, and, through the action of multiple molecular motors, the chromosomes are segregated into two daughter cells. Mitosis also sees a substantial wave of protein phosphorylation, controlling signaling events that coordinate mitotic processes and ensure accurate chromosome segregation. The key switch for the onset of mitosis is the archetypal cyclin-dependent kinase, Cdc2. Under the direction of Cdc2 is an executive of protein serine/threonine kinases that fall into three families: the Polo kinases, Aurora kinases and the NIMA-related kinases (Nrk). The latter family has proven the most enigmatic in function, although recent advances from several sources are beginning to reveal a common functional theme.
Derald H. Ruttenberg Cancer Center, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1130, New York, NY 10029, USA. matthew.oconnell@mssm.edu
Matthew J
MJ
O'Connell
Michael J E
MJ
Krien
Tony
T
Hunter
D000818:Animals; D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000378:metabolism; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000378:metabolism; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D008954:Models, Biological; D000072380:NIMA-Related Kinase 1; D000072379:NIMA-Related Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000378:metabolism; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D000097767:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 11
D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D000072380:NIMA-Related Kinase 1; D000072379:NIMA-Related Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000097767:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 11; C000606914:NEK1 protein, human; C089441:NEK2 protein, human; C462119:NEK9 protein, human; C000606921:fin1 protein, S pombe