Brain Selective Kinase 2 (BRSK2)

The deduced protein contains 149 amino acids. Northern blot analysis detected a major 3.8-kb transcript and a minor 4.2-kb transcript expressed mainly in brain and pancreas, with weaker expression in testis. Expression was not detected in other tissues examined. BRSK2 was preferentially expressed from the maternal allele in placenta, but no allelic preference was detected in brain, liver, and kidney. They concluded that BRSK2 is an atypical imprinted gene.

The deduced 778-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 87 kD. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that BRSK2 belongs to the MARK subfamily of kinases. Northern blot analysis detected ubiquitous expression of a 3.5-kb transcript, with highest levels in brain and testis.