PLK 4, PLK-4, PLK4_HUMAN, Polo like Kinase 4, Polo-like kinase 4, Protein serine/threonine kinase, SAK, Serine/Threonine Kinase 18, Serine/threonine kinase, Serine/threonine protein kinase 18, Serine/threonine protein kinase PLK4, Serine/threonine protein kinase Sak, Serine/threonine-protein kinase 18, Serine/threonine-protein kinase PLK4, Serine/threonine-protein kinase SAK, Snk Akin Kinase, STK 18.
Serine/threonine-protein kinase that plays a central role in centriole duplication. Able to trigger procentriole formation on the surface of the parental centriole cylinder, leading to the recruitment of centriole biogenesis proteins such as SASS6, CENPJ/CPAP, CP110, CEP135 and gamma-tubulin. When overexpressed, it is able to induce centrosome amplification through the simultaneous generation of multiple procentrioles adjoining each parental centriole during S phase. Its central role in centriole replication suggests a posible role in tumorigenesis, centrosome aberrations being frequently observed in tumors. Also involved in trophoblast differentiation by phosphorylating HAND1, leading to disrupt the interaction between HAND1 and MDFIC and activate HAND1. Phosphorylates CDC25C and CHEK2/CHK2.
