CRIK Mouse, Unlabeled, Clone: 6, BD

Description

Citron was identified by its interactions with activated Rho and Rac. It contains a zinc finger (ZF) region, a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, a citron/MRCK/Gek (CMG) domain, and a coiled-coil domain with a Rho-Rac binding region (RRB). Citron binds to PSD-95 via its C-terminal tSXV motif and the PDZ domain on PSD-95. This association occurs at post synaptic densities where citron-PSD-95 may provide a specific link between the Rho signaling cascade and the synaptic NMDA receptor complex. Citron Rho-interacting kinase (CRIK) and CRIK short kinase (CRIK-SK) are Ser/Thr kinase isoforms of the myotonic dystrophy kinase family. CRIK contains full-length citron, with an N-terminal kinase domain. CRIK-SK is a splice variant that contains only the kinase domain. CRIK co-localizes with actin in keratinocytes and co-expression of CRIK and Rho increases CRIK kinase activity two-fold. In addition, CRIK mutants cause abnormal contraction during cytokinesis. CRIK is expressed highest in testis, but is also present in brain, spleen, lung, and kidney. Thus, CRIK is a Ser/Thr kinase that functions downstream of Rho during events such as cytokinesis and synaptic transmission.

Immunofluorescence, Western Blotting