NEK7 Human

NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7) is a serine/threonine kinase that belongs to the NIMA (never in mitosis, gene A) family of kinases. It is one of the smallest members of the NEK family and plays a crucial role in cell cycle regulation, particularly in the process of mitosis. NEK7 is widely distributed in various tissues, including the brain, heart, and liver .

NEK7 is essential for the proper formation and function of the mitotic spindle, a structure responsible for segregating chromosomes during cell division. It is involved in the regulation of microtubule dynamics and ensures accurate chromosome alignment and segregation . Additionally, NEK7 has been implicated in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a multiprotein complex involved in the innate immune response .

Under pathological conditions, NEK7 is abnormally expressed and plays a key role in the progression of various tumors and chronic inflammatory diseases. Its involvement in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome has been linked to inflammatory diseases, making it a potential drug target for therapeutic interventions .

Recombinant human NEK7 is produced using various expression systems, with Escherichia coli being one of the most commonly used hosts. However, the production of recombinant NEK7 in E. coli often faces challenges such as low purity and inactivity of the protein . Optimized protocols have been developed to improve the purity and activity of recombinant NEK7, involving the use of His-tagged proteins and multiple purification steps .

Research on NEK7 has provided valuable insights into its role in cell cycle regulation and immune response. Studies have shown that NEK7 is a crucial component of the NLRP3 inflammasome and is involved in the downstream response of its activation . The kinase activity and biophysical characteristics of recombinant NEK7 have been preserved through optimized purification protocols, enabling further pharmacological studies and the development of NEK7 inhibitors .