Kinase Subfamily nmo

Kinase Classification: Group Atypical: Family MAPK: Subfamily nmo

nmo is named after the Drosophila member nemo; other homologs are usually called NLK (nemo-like kinase). nmo kinases are found in single copy in all metazoan genomes, but not in other eukaryotes. Unlike most other MAPK, nmo kinases lack a tyrosine in their activation loop and are instead activated by TAK1, a member of the MLK family which usually act as MAP3Ks, rather than MAP2K. TAK1 is also found in animals, though also found in Monosiga.

nmo is a largely nuclear protein, and known to phosphorylate many transcription factors, including STAT3, Myb, SETDB1, Foxo1 and Mad, and is involved in a number of developmental programs.