Abstract: The invention provides isolated protein kinase polypeptides related to novel brain-localized protein kinases homologous to known homeodomain-interacting protein kinases (HIPKs), isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode these polypeptides, inhibitors, and methods related thereto. The novel polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules of the invention are termed HIPK4. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors, host cells, and transgenic animals comprising the novel nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The invention additionally provides antisense and RNAi molecules to the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, as well as inhibitors, activators, and antibodies capable of binding to the protein kinase polypeptides of the invention. The invention further provides uses of HIPK4 and its inhibitors, e.g., mutants of HIPK4 lacking protein kinase activity, for modulation of apoptosis, as well as the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders and cancers.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of identifying cell adjacency in a coculture of cells. The method includes generating a first set of image data of the coculture of cells, the first set of image data comprising nuclear position data for each imaged cell; generating a second set of image data of at least a subset of the coculture of cells, the second set of image data comprising cell identifier data associated with a first cell type; generating a third set of image data of at least a subset of the coculture of cells, the third set of image data comprising cell identifier data associated with a second cell type; and identifying a group of cells in response to the nuclear position data, wherein each cell having the first cell type in the group is adjacent another cell in the group having the second cell type.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated protein kinase polypeptides related to novel brain-localized protein kinases homologous to known homeodomain-interacting protein kinases (HIPKs), and the isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode these polypeptides. The novel polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules of the invention are termed HIPK4. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors, host cells, and transgenic animals comprising the novel nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The invention additionally provides antisense and RNAi molecules to the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The invention further provides inhibitors, activators, and antibodies capable of binding to the protein kinase polypeptides of the invention, and their use in the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders.