Other Kinases

The Other Kinases group collects protein kinase families that do not fall into the classical AGC, CAMK, CMGC, STE, TK, TKL, CK1 or RGC branches. It includes the polo-like kinases (PLK1-4) that orchestrate mitotic progression, the NIMA-related Nek kinases, the IKK family that activates NF-kappaB downstream of TNF and TLR signaling, RIPK family kinases governing cell death and inflammatory signaling, the ULK1/ULK2 autophagy-initiation kinases, and the adaptor-associated AAK family. Many members couple directly to immune, inflammatory and cell death pathways rather than to growth factor cascades. PLK1, ULK1 and the IKK/RIPK nodes are active areas of drug discovery in oncology, autoimmunity and neurodegeneration.