The FA2 gene of Chlamydomonas encodes a NIMA family kinase with roles in cell cycle progression and microtubule severing during deflagellation.

The NIMA kinases are one of several families of kinases that participate in driving the eukaryotic cell cycle. NIMA-related kinases have been implicated in G2/M progression, chromatin condensation and regulation of the centrosome cycle. Here we report the identification of a new member of this family, FA2, from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.