Cyclin Dependent Kinase Like Protein 2 (CDKL2)

The predicted 493-amino acid protein shares 58% identity with the KKIALRE serine/threonine protein kinase in their respective kinase domains. A single transcript was detected in fetal brain and, at very low levels, in fetal kidney. KKIALRE exhibited a similar pattern of expression except in the reproductive tissues, where KKIALRE was expressed only in ovary while KKIAMRE was expressed only in testis. Treatment of cultured cells with epidermal growth factor caused an increase in the activity of KKIALRE and KKIAMRE. However, this stimulation did not require phosphorylation of the conserved MAP kinase dual phosphorylation motif present in both kinases, leading the authors to conclude that KKIAMRE and KKIALRE are not functional members of the MAP kinase group.