Molecular cloning of MINK, a novel member of mammalian GCK family kinases, which is up-regulated during postnatal mouse cerebral development.

A new germinal center kinase (GCK) family kinase, Misshapen/NIKs-related kinase (MINK), has been cloned and its expression has been characterized in several tissues and various developmental stages of the mouse brain. MINK encodes a 1300 amino acid polypeptide, consisting of an N-terminal kinase domain, a proline-rich intermediate region, and a C-terminal GCK homology region. The expression of MINK is up-regulated during the postnatal development of the mouse brain. MINK activates the cJun N-terminal kinase and the p38 pathways.