NUAK2

Full Name

NUAK family, SNF1-like kinase, 2

Function

Stress-activated kinase involved in tolerance to glucose starvation. Induces cell-cell detachment by increasing F-actin conversion to G-actin. Expression is induced by CD95 or TNF-alpha, via NF-kappa-B. Protects cells from CD95-mediated apoptosis and is required for the increased motility and invasiveness of CD95-activated tumor cells. Phosphorylates LATS1 and LATS2. Plays a key role in neural tube closure during embryonic development through LATS2 phosphorylation and regulation of the nuclear localization of YAP1 a critical downstream regulatory target in the Hippo signaling pathway (PubMed:32845958).

Biological Process

Actin cytoskeleton organizationManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIDA:UniProtKB
Apoptotic processIEA:UniProtKB-KW
Cellular response to glucose starvationManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIDA:UniProtKB
Intracellular signal transductionManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central
Negative regulation of apoptotic processManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIDA:UniProtKB
Protein phosphorylationManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIDA:UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Cytoplasm

Involvement in disease

Anencephaly 2 (ANPH2):
A form of anencephaly, an extreme neural tube defect resulting in the absence of brain tissues, and death in utero or perinatally. Infants are born with intact spinal cords, cerebellums, and brainstems, but lack formation of neural structures above this level. The skull is only partially formed. ANPH2 features may also include frontonasal dysplasia with midline cleft of the upper lip and alveolar ridge, bifid nose, and clinical anophthalmia. ANPH2 inheritance is autosomal recessive.

PTM

Phosphorylated at Thr-208 by STK11/LKB1 in complex with STE20-related adapter-alpha (STRADA) pseudo kinase and CAB39 (PubMed:14976552).
Autophosphorylation is also possible at Thr-208 (PubMed:32845958).