NCK Adaptor Protein 2 (NCK2) Protein

Background

NCK2, also called Grb4, is a close homolog of NCK1 and functions as an adaptor protein linking receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and cytoplasmic signaling molecules. It contains three SH3 domains and one SH2 domain, enabling it to interact with proteins involved in actin cytoskeletal regulation, cell adhesion, and migration. NCK2 mediates signaling pathways that regulate cell growth, differentiation, and survival, particularly through interactions with proteins like WASP, WAVE, and PAK kinases. It has specialized roles in embryonic development, angiogenesis, and neuronal growth. Dysregulation of NCK2 is implicated in cancer, where it promotes migration and invasion through actin remodeling. Knockout models show impaired embryonic development, angiogenesis defects, and abnormalities in cell motility, underscoring its critical role in cytoskeletal dynamics and signal transduction.