This gene encodes a member of the Ste20 family of serine/threonine protein kinases, and is similar to several known polo-like kinase kinases. The protein can associate with and phosphorylate polo-like kinase 1, and overexpression of a kinase-dead version of the protein interferes with normal cell cy
cle progression. The kinase can also negatively regulate interleukin 2 expression in T-cells via the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1 pathway. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
The protein encoded by this gene is activated by phosphorylation and in turn is involved in the phosphorylation of tau proteins MAP2 and MAP4. Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2011]