Overview:

VRK3 is a member of the vaccinia-related kinase (VRK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases which has substitutions at several residues within the ATP binding motifs that in other kinases have been shown to be required for catalysis. Profound changes to the active site region underlie the loss of catalytic activity of VRK3 since it cannot bind ATP because of residue substitutions in the binding pocket (1). VRK3 is widely expressed in human tissues and the protein localizes to the nucleus. VRK3 regulates several transcription factors, nuclear envelope assembly, and chromatin condensation and is also required for cell cycle progression (2).

Gene Aliases:

(None)

Genbank Number:

NM_016440

References:

1. Scheeff, E D. et al: Structure of the pseudokinase VRK3 reveals a degraded catalytic site, a highly conserved kinase fold, and a putative regulatory binding site. Structure. 2009 Jan 14;17(1):128-38.

2. Sanz-García M, et.al: Proteomics identification of nuclear Ran GTPase as an inhibitor of human VRK1 and VRK2 (vaccinia-related kinase) activities. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2008 Nov;7(11):2199-214.