The lemur tail kinase (LMR) family are are unusual amongst the RTKs in possessing a short extracellular domain and extended intracellular domain (hence the 'Lemur' name reflecting the long tail). LMR1 was identified as a potential marker of apoptosis [1], giving rise to the name AATYK (Apoptosis-Associated Tyrosine Kinase); while over-expression induces differentiation in neuroblastoma cells [2]. The LMTK/LMR family have since been identified to have serine/threonine kinase activity, as opposed to tyrosine kinase [3].

As yet no selective inhibitors of the LMR family have been described.

* Key recommended reading is highlighted with an asterisk

* Mórotz GM, Bradbury NA, Caluseriu O, Hisanaga SI, Miller CCJ, Swiatecka-Urban A, Lenz HJ, Moss SJ, Giamas G. (2024) A revised nomenclature for the lemur family of protein kinases. Commun Biol, 7 (1): 57. [PMID:38191649]

* Wendler F, Purice TM, Simon T, Stebbing J, Giamas G. (2021) The LMTK-family of kinases: Emerging important players in cell physiology and pathogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis, 1867 (9): 165372. [PMID:30597196]

1. Gaozza E, Baker SJ, Vora RK, Reddy EP. (1997) AATYK: a novel tyrosine kinase induced during growth arrest and apoptosis of myeloid cells. Oncogene, 15 (25): 3127-35. [PMID:9444961]

2. Raghunath M, Patti R, Bannerman P, Lee CM, Baker S, Sutton LN, Phillips PC, Damodar Reddy C. (2000) A novel kinase, AATYK induces and promotes neuronal differentiation in a human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line. Brain Res Mol Brain Res, 77 (2): 151-62. [PMID:10837911]

3. Wendler F, Purice TM, Simon T, Stebbing J, Giamas G. (2021) The LMTK-family of kinases: Emerging important players in cell physiology and pathogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis, 1867 (9): 165372. [PMID:30597196]