這個基因編碼的蛋白質是ser/thr蛋白激酶pak家族的成員。pak家族成員是rac/cdc42gtpase的效應者，參與調控細胞骨架動力學、增殖和細胞存活信號。該激酶包含一個cdc42/rac1相互作用結合（crib）基序，并且在gtp存在下已被證明與cdc42結合。這種激酶主要在大腦中表達。它能促進軸突的生長，從而在軸突的發育中發揮作用。這種激酶與微管網絡有關，并誘導微管穩定。這種激酶的亞細胞定位在細胞周期進程中受到嚴格的調控。已經描述了編碼相同蛋白質的選擇性剪接轉錄變體。
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the PAK family of Ser/Thr protein kinases. PAK family members are known to be effectors of Rac/Cdc42 GTPases, which have been implicated in the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics, proliferation, and cell survival signaling. This kinase contains a CDC42/Rac1 interactive binding (CRIB) motif, and has been shown to bind CDC42 in the presence of GTP. This kinase is predominantly expressed in brain. It is capable of promoting neurite outgrowth, and thus may play a role in neurite development. This kinase is associated with microtubule networks and induces microtubule stabilization. The subcellular localization of this kinase is tightly regulated during cell cycle progression. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding the same protein have been described. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]