Never in Mitosis Gene A-Related Kinase 8

Alternative Names

  • NEK8
  • NIMA-Related Kinase 8
  • JCK, Mouse, Homolog of
  • Nephrocystin 9
  • NPHP9
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OMIM Number

609799

Gene Map Locus
17q11.2

Description

The NEK8 gene encodes a ciliary enzyme belonging to the serine/threonine protein kinase family.  This kinase is believed to be required for ciliary biogenesis and renal tubular integrity.  It is also known to be involved in the Hippo signaling pathway. 

The gene is associated with Renal-Hepatic-Pancreatic Dysplasia 2 (RHPD2), an often fatal disorder characterized by cystic/dysplastic abnormalities in the kidney, liver and pancreas along with cardiovascular, pulmonary and skeletal defects.  The gene is also linked to Nephronophthisis 9 (NPHP9), an autosomal recessive renal disease resulting in cysts and eventually, renal failure.

Molecular Genetics

NEK8 is located on the long arm of chromosome 17.  The gene spans a length of 17.5 kb of DNA and its coding sequence is spread across 18 exons.  The protein encoded by NEK8 has a molecular mass of 74.8 kDa and is made up of 692 amino acids.  The gene is expressed in the liver, testis, thyroid, adrenal gland and skin with lower expression in the spleen, colon and uterus.  So far, variants associated RHPD2 and NPHP9 have been homozygous transitions resulting in nonsense mutations.

Epidemiology in the Arab World

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Variant NameCountryGenomic LocationClinvar Clinical SignificanceCTGA Clinical Significance Condition(s)HGVS ExpressionsdbSNPClinvar
NM_178170.3:c.133C>TLebanonNC_000017.11:g.28734068C>TUncertain SignificanceLikely PathogenicNephronophthisis 9NG_012263.1:g.10255C>T; NM_178170.3:c.133C>T; NP_835464.1:p.Arg45Trp1567759130593252

Other Reports

Saudi Arabia

Al-Hamed et al. (2016) investigated the underlying gene defects in a cohort of 44 Saudi families affected by antenatal cystic kidney disease.  In one such family, antenatal ultrasound examination found cystic kidneys, oligohydramnios, cerebellar vermis aplasia, dilated cisterna magna and bilateral bowed femurs.  The case resulted in fetal death and DNA was unavailable for analysis.  However, the consanguineous parents were both found to be heterozygous for a novel NEK8 mutation c.1401G>A (p.W467*).  The nonsense mutation was predicted by ‘Mutation Taster’ to be disease causing as it would disturb the highly conserved ‘regulator of chromatin condensation 1’ domain.  The variant had a minor allele frequency of 0.000008237 according to the ExAC database.  

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