FB2026_03 , released September 17, 2026
Human Disease Model Report: cancer, multiple, NEK2-RAS-CSK(SRC)-related
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General Information
Name
cancer, multiple, NEK2-RAS-CSK(SRC)-related
FlyBase ID
FBhh0001099
Disease Ontology Term
Parent Disease
OMIM
Overview

This report describes a Drosophila model of cancer that combines overexpression of the Dmel\Nek2 gene (orthologous to human NEK2) with a multi-component fly RAS-SRC cancer model. NEK2 encodes a protein kinase involved in the control of centrosome separation and bipolar spindle formation. Overexpression of human NEK2 is observed in multiple different cancers and is thought to contribute to dysregulation of the centrosome cycle and aneuploidy. Addressed in this model is the possibility that the initial impact of NEK2 overexpression occurs at an earlier stage, and is not confined to increasing chromosomal instability.

The human NEK2 gene has not been introduced into flies.

A previously developed Drosophila model of cancer uses an activated mutation in the fly RAS protein Ras85D (Ras85DV12) combined with a loss-of-function mutation in the fly gene orthologous to the human CSK kinase gene, Dmel\Csk. Phosphorylation by CSK suppresses the activity of multiple genes, including the SRC proto-oncogene. See the human disease model report 'cancer, multiple, RAS-CSK(SRC)-related' (FBhh0000664). Assessed using somatic clones in larval eye discs, RAS(activated)-CSK mutant clones exhibit limited tissue overgrowth. Addition of Dmel\Nek2 overexpression results in increased overgrowth and appearance of secondary tumors in other parts of the body. The overgrowth phenotype is reduced and the metastatic phenotype completely suppressed by feeding of a drug known to inhibit the activity of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

[updated Jul. 2019 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]

Disease Summary Information
Disease Summary: cancer, multiple, NEK2-RAS-CSK(SRC)-related
OMIM report
Human gene(s) implicated
Symptoms and phenotype
Genetics
Cellular phenotype and pathology
Molecular information

NEK2 encodes a protein kinase involved in the control of centrosome separation and bipolar spindle formation in mitotic cells and chromatin condensation in meiotic cells. The protein is localized to the centrosome, and undetectable during G1 phase, but accumulates progressively throughout the S phase, reaching maximal levels in late G2 phase. [Gene Cards, NEK2; 2019.07.23]

External links
Disease synonyms
Ortholog Information
Human gene(s) in FlyBase
    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    One to one: 1 human to 1 Drosophila; additional more distantly related gene(s) in both species.

    Other mammalian ortholog(s) used
      D. melanogaster Gene Information (3)
      Gene Snapshot
      C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) encodes a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that acts as a tumor suppressor through Src pathway inibition as well as a mediator of the activity of the product of Egfr. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-07]
      Cellular component (GO)
      Gene Groups / Pathways
      Comments on ortholog(s)

      High-scoring ortholog of human CSK; moderate-scoring ortholog of human MATK (1 Drosophila to 2 human); Dmel\Csk shares 62% identity and 75% similarity with the human CSK gene.

      Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
      DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
      Gene Snapshot
      Nek2 (Nek2) encodes a Ser/Thr kinase belonging to the NIMA family of kinases. It regulates centrosome disjunction, bipolar spindle formation, and kinetochore microtubule dynamics during mitosis. It also participates in meiosis by regulating chromatin condensation events. [Date last reviewed: 2018-10-11]
      Cellular component (GO)
      Gene Groups / Pathways
      Comments on ortholog(s)

      Moderate- to high-scoring ortholog of human NEK2 (1 Drosophila to 1 human); additional more distantly related gene(s) in both species. Dmel\Nek2 shares 36% identity and 52% similarity with the human gene.

      Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
      DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
      Gene Snapshot
      Ras oncogene at 85D (Ras85D) encodes a protein that acts downstream of several cell signals, most notably from Receptor Tyrosine Kinases, to regulate tissue growth and development. When abnormally activated it can direct developmental defects and tissue hyperplasia, mimicking aspects of human disease including Rasopathies and cancer, respectively. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
      Cellular component (GO)
      Gene Groups / Pathways
      Comments on ortholog(s)

      High-scoring ortholog of human genes KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS (many to many; multiple paralogs and orthologs in both species). Dmel\Ras85D shares 78-86% identity and 86-92% similarity with KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS; for these three human genes, Ras85D is the highest-scoring ortholog in Drosophila.

      Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
      DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
      Other Genes Used: Viral, Bacterial, Synthetic (0)
        Summary of Physical Interactions (48 groups)
        protein-protein
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, pull down, western blot
        proximity ligation assay, fluorescence microscopy
        enzymatic study, western blot, autoradiography
        enzymatic study, autoradiography
        enzymatic study, western blot
        protein-protein
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        enzymatic study, autoradiography, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, western blot
        protein-protein
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        pull down, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        gtpase assay, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        two hybrid, pull down, western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, pull down
        pull down, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry, pull down, covalent binding, western blot
        Alleles Reported to Model Human Disease (Disease Ontology) (31 alleles)
        Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 2 )
        Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 4 )
        Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Evidence
        References
        Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Interaction
        References
        Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 17 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Evidence
        References
        model of  cancer
        Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 19 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Interaction
        References
        model of  cancer
        is exacerbated by ITPUAS.F
        model of  cancer
        is ameliorated by InRGL00139
        is ameliorated by InRJF01183
        is ameliorated by InRJF01482
        is ameliorated by NetBΔ
        is ameliorated by NetBKK103672
        is ameliorated by unc-5MI04273
        is ameliorated by JraNIG.2275R
        is ameliorated by bskDN.UAS
        is ameliorated by bskHMS00777
        is exacerbated by hepAct.UAS
        is exacerbated by imdUAS.cGa
        is ameliorated by TimpUAS.cPa
        ameliorates  cancer
        model of  kidney cancer
        is ameliorated by Pka-C1B3
        is ameliorated by mTorΔP
        model of  cancer
        is exacerbated by Ptp61FΔ
        is exacerbated by exe1
        is exacerbated by M6W186stop
        is ameliorated by Ptip3804
        is exacerbated by p53UAS.cUa
        is ameliorated by Ilp8MI00727
        is exacerbated by Clbn1Q
        exacerbates  carcinoma
        model of  carcinoma
        is exacerbated by NkapGD11807
        Alleles Representing Disease-Implicated Variants
        Genetic Tools, Stocks and Reagents
        Sources of Stocks
        Contact lab of origin for a reagent not available from a public stock center.
        Bloomington Stock Center Disease Page
        Related mammalian, viral, bacterial, or synthetic transgenes
        Allele
        Transgene
        Publicly Available Stocks
        Selected Drosophila transgenes
        Allele
        Transgene
        Publicly Available Stocks
        RNAi constructs available
        Allele
        Transgene
        Publicly Available Stocks
        Selected Drosophila classical alleles
        Allele
        Allele class
        Mutagen
        Publicly Available Stocks
        loss of function allele
        loss of function allele
        P-element activity
        amorphic allele - genetic evidence
        loss of function allele
        Delta2-3 transposase
        loss of function allele
        Delta2-3 transposase
        ethyl methanesulfonate
        References (4)