Non Metastatic Cells 2, Protein NM23B Expressed In (NME2)

The nm23-H1 gene also shares a significant homology with nucleoside diphosphate kinases and the Drosophila developmental gene awd. Northern blot hybridization indicated that the expression of the nm23-H1 gene is reduced to a lesser extent in tumor cells of high metastatic potential than is nm23-H1. Both proteins are independently active nucleoside diphosphate kinases and readily form intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds.

NME2 is identical to the beta subunit of human erythrocyte NDP kinase. NDP kinases are involved in the synthesis of nucleoside triphosphates, and the NM23 protein may act in the regulation of signal transduction by complexing with G proteins, causing activation/inactivation of developmental pathways.