As a serine/threonine kinase, NIMA-related kinases (NEKs) play important roles in the regulation of cell cycle, and involve in several cellular activities such as centrosome separation, spindle assembly, chromatin condensation, nuclear envelope breakdown, spindle assembly checkpoint signaling, cytokinesis, cilia formation and DNA damage response. In this review, we summarize the component, structural characteristics and functions of NEK family in mitosis and meiosis based on the relevant researches in recent years, providing a reference for the further study on the roles of NEKs in the regulation of cell cycle and a theoretical basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors.
NIMA相关激酶(NIMA-related kinases, NEKs)是丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶,在细胞周期调控中发挥着重要的作用,参与了中心体分离、纺锤体组装、染色质凝集、核膜破裂、纺锤体组装检验点信号、胞质分裂、纤毛形成及DNA损伤反应等多种细胞活动。本文结合近年来在该激酶家族的相关研究,从NEK家族的组成、结构特征及其在有丝分裂和减数分裂过程中的作用等多个方面展开综述,以期为进一步研究NEKs在细胞周期调控中的作用提供重要基础,也为肿瘤的临床诊断和治疗提供理论依据。.
Keywords: NIMA-related kinases; meiosis; mitosis.