Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay
12:26

Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay

Published on: May 3, 2018

Mutation of NIMA-related kinase 1 (NEK1) leads to chromosome instability

Yumay Chen1, Chi-Fen Chen, Huai-Chin Chiang

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of California at Irvine, 1130 Gross Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. yumayc@uci.edu

Molecular Cancer
|January 11, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

NEK1 deficiency causes DNA repair defects, genomic instability, and aneuploidy. NEK1 is crucial for maintaining genome stability and proper cell division, preventing cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • NEK1 is a mammalian ortholog of fungal NIMA, involved in DNA damage response.
  • NEK1-deficient cells exhibit persistent DNA double-strand breaks and checkpoint activation failures (CHK1, CHK2) after ionizing radiation.
  • These cells also show improper G1/S and G2/M phase arrest following DNA damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of NEK1 in maintaining genome stability.
  • To determine the consequences of NEK1 deficiency on cell division and cancer development.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of NEK1-deficient cells for mitotic errors and aneuploidy.
  • In vitro transformation assays (anchorage-independent growth).
  • Tumorigenesis studies in syngeneic mice.
  • Evaluation of genomic instability in NEK1+/- mice.

Main Results:

  • NEK1-deficient cells display significant errors in chromosome segregation and cytokinesis, leading to aneuploidy.
  • These cells undergo transformation, grow independently of anchorage, and form tumors in vivo.
  • NEK1+/- mice show increased incidence of lymphomas later in life, indicating genomic instability.

Conclusions:

  • NEK1 is essential for maintaining genome stability through multiple pathways, including chromosome stability control.
  • Loss of NEK1 function contributes to cancer development by compromising DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoints.

More Related Videos

Generation and Isolation of Cell Cycle-arrested Cells with Complex Karyotypes05:22

Generation and Isolation of Cell Cycle-arrested Cells with Complex Karyotypes

Published on: April 13, 2018

Generation of Centromere-Associated Protein-E CENP-E-/- Knockout Cell Lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 System11:49

Generation of Centromere-Associated Protein-E CENP-E-/- Knockout Cell Lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 System

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Nucleotide Excision Repair01:08

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:38

Nucleotide Excision Repair

DNA Distortion and Damage
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
Nucleosome Remodeling02:54

Nucleosome Remodeling

Nucleosomes are the basic units of chromatin compaction. Each nucleosome consists of the DNA bound tightly around a histone core, which makes the DNA inaccessible to DNA binding proteins such as DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase. Hence, the fundamental problem is to ensure access to DNA when appropriate, despite the compact and protective chromatin structure.
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Nondisjunction01:29

Nondisjunction

During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.
Nondisjunction01:21

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers.  Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis.  Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...