Never In Mitosis Gene A Related Kinase 6 (NEK6)

The Aspergillus nidulans 'never in mitosis A' (NIMA) gene encodes a serine/threonine kinase that controls initiation of mitosis. NIMA-related kinases (NEKs) are a group of protein kinases that are homologous to NIMA. Evidence suggests that NEKs perform functions similar to those of NIMA.

Li et al. (1999) reported the cloning of a human liver cDNA encoding NEK6. Kimura and Okano (2001) determined that NEK6 and NEK7 share 77% amino acid identity. By Northern blot analysis, Li et al. (1999) detected 1.6-, 2.6-, and 9.5-kb NEK6 transcripts. The 1.6-kb transcript was expressed at highest levels in liver and placenta. By RT-PCR, Kimura and Okano (2001) found expression of NEK6 in all tissues examined.