The gene has been targeted for gene deletion using a construct aimed at integration into the genome by double cross-over homologous recombination

The gene has been targeted for disruption in a 'kinome-wide' study for deletion of genes encoding Plasmodium protein kinases (protein kinase-like proteins).

See the paper for additional information on the analysis of the phenotype.

See also Agarwal, S (2011; J Cell Biochem) for characterization of PfCLK-2 (PF14_0408) and negative attempts to disrupt this gene in P. falciparum: "four Plasmodium members have been identified of the cyclin-dependent kinase-like kinase (CLK) family. In other eukaryotes, CLKs regulate mRNA splicing through phosphorylation of Serine/Arginine-rich proteins. PfCLK-2 (PF14_0408) shows homology with the yeast Serine/Arginine protein kinase Sky1p and is transcribed throughout the asexual blood stages and in gametocytes. PfCLK-2 (PF14_0408) possesses one nuclear localization signal site upstream of the C-terminal catalytic domains. Indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot and electron microscopy data confirm that the kinases are primarily localized in the parasite nucleus".

Disruption of the P. falciparum ortholog has been attempted (Solyakov et al., 2011, Nat Commun, 2:565).
The gene is likely essential for asexual proliferation as integration of the KO vector was not achieved. Accesibility of the locus to recombination was verified by C-terminal tagging.