New Alternative Splicing Isoform and Identification of the Kinase Activity of N-Terminal Kinase-Like Protein (NTKL)

Abstract

N-terminal kinase-like (NTKL) protein was initially identified as a protein binding to protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt). Though NTKL-BP1 (NTKL-binding protein 1) has been identified as an NTKL binding protein, its functions related to binding have not yet been elucidated. Here, a new alternative spliced variant of NTKL and its association with integrin <TEX>${\beta}1$</TEX> is described, in addition to the kinase activity of NTKL and its substrate candidates. Although the phosphorylation of the candidates must be further confirmed using other experimental methods, the observation that NTKL can phosphorylate ROCK1, DYRK3, and MST1 indicates that NTKL may act as a signaling protein to regulate actin assembly, cell migration, cell growth, and to facilitate differentiation and development in an integrin-associated manner.