There are approximately 40 known eukaryotic LIM proteins, so named for the LIM domains they contain. LIM domains are highly conserved cysteine-rich structures containing 2 zinc fingers. Although zinc fingers usually function by binding to DNA or RNA, the LIM motif probably mediates protein-protein interactions. LIM kinase-1 and LIM kinase-2 belong to a small subfamily with a unique combination of 2 N-terminal LIM motifs and a SLCterminal protein kinase domain. The protein encoded by this gene is phosphorylated and activated by ROCK, a downstream effector of Rho, and the encoded protein, in turn, phosphorylates cofilin, inhibiting its actin-depolymerizing activity. It is thought that this pathway contributes to Rho-induced reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. At least three transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Function:
Potential transcription factor. May play a role in early mesoderm formation and later in lateral mesoderm differentiation and neurogenesis.
Subcellular Location:
Nucleus.
Tissue Specificity:
Expressed in the brain, thymus, and tonsils. Expressed in samples from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and in 58% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines.
Similarity:
Contains 1 homeobox DNA-binding domain.
Contains 2 LIM zinc-binding domains.
SWISS:
P48742
Gene ID:
3975
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 45920 Chimpanzee
Entrez Gene: 3975 Human
Entrez Gene: 16869 Mouse
Entrez Gene: 257634 Rat
Omim: 601999 Human
SwissProt: Q5IS44 Chimpanzee
SwissProt: P48742 Human
SwissProt: P63006 Mouse
SwissProt: P63007 Rat
Unigene: 443727 Human
Unigene: 4965 Mouse
Unigene: 127825 Rat
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