Description
NEK3 is a member of the NEK family of protein kinases that share high amino acid homology with NIMA (never in mitosis gene a). NEK3 mRNA is detected in all the proliferating cell lines with the amount not changing during the cell cycle. During Prolactin receptor signaling, VAV2 is phosphorylated and activated by NEK3. Overexpression of NEK3 in Chinese hamster ovary cells increases cytoskeletal re-organization in response to Prolactin while downregulation of NEK3 expression by siRNA block these effects. Prolactin also stimulates interaction between NEK3 and paxillin leading to increased paxillin phosphorylation, Analysis of breast tissue microarrays show a significant up-regulation of NEK3 expression in malignant versus normal specimens