NEK6 encodes a NEK type protein kinase, which contains a C-terminal NIMA-like catalytic domain. The protein is believed to regulate chromatin condensation in mammalian cells via phosphorylation of histones H1 and H3, and it has been shown to phosphorylate ribosomal S6 protein kinase (S6K1) and serum and glucocorticoid induced protein kinase (SGK1), which regulate diverse cellular processes. The protein also has been shown to bind NEK9, another NIMA-related kinase which regulates chromosome alignment and segregation. At least three mRNA transcripts have been identified, 1.6-, 2.6-, and 9.5-kb. The NEK6 gene is localized to 9q33-34, a region at which the loss of heterozygosity is associated with transitional cell carcinomas. References: The UniProt Consortium. Nucleic Acids Res. 47: D506-515 (2019); Nucleic Acids Res. 2016 Jan 4;44(D1):D733-45, PMID:26553804