Thousand and one amino acid protein kinase 1 (TAOK1)

Thousand and one amino acid protein kinase 1 (TAOK1) is a serine/threonine-protein kinase belonging to the STE20 family, specifically the GCK-VIII subfamily. It acts as an upstream activator of the p38/MAPK14 and JNK signaling pathways by phosphorylating MAP2K3, MAP2K6, and MAP2K4 (UniProt Q9P2K8). TAOK1 plays a pivotal role in regulating microtubule dynamics and the actin cytoskeleton, which are essential for maintaining cell morphology, neurite outgrowth, and proper mitotic progression (PubMed: 21802320). In a disease context, TAOK1 is significantly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and intellectual disability, due to its role in synaptic development and dendritic spine maturation (PubMed: 28803714). Furthermore, it is implicated in Alzheimer's disease as it phosphorylates the tau protein at Ser262, promoting microtubule destabilization and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (PubMed: 15010469). While no TAOK1-specific drugs are currently FDA-approved, small molecule inhibitors like MRT67307 are used in research to study its role in inflammation and oncology, where TAOK1 may influence tumor cell migration and survival.

Other names

TAO1TAO kinase 1MAP3K16MARKKPSK2Prostate-derived sterile 20-like kinase 2Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase kinase

Inhibition of kinase activity through ATP-competitive binding