Enables protein kinase activity. Acts upstream of or within positive regulation of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity and positive regulation of striated muscle cell differentiation. Is expressed in choroid invagination; diencephalon roof plate; medulla oblongata part of 4th ventricle choroid plexus; and metencephalon part of 4th ventricle choroid plexus. Orthologous to human NEK5 (NIMA related kinase 5). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]