DCLK2/DCAMKL2

DCLK2, doublecortin-like kinase 2, couples amino-terminal doublecortin domains that bind and stabilize microtubules to a carboxy-terminal CAMK-like kinase domain. It is expressed in the developing and adult nervous system, including olfactory bulb, hippocampus, and cortex, supporting neuronal migration, dendritic growth, and synaptic maturation. Alternative promoters generate isoforms with different domain compositions, including kinase-dominant variants lacking the microtubule-binding region. Like its paralogs, DCLK2 autophosphorylates and contributes to microtubule remodeling during neurogenesis, although its substrate catalog remains incompletely mapped. Studies in knockout mice indicate partially redundant functions with DCLK1 in specific neuronal populations, while its expression pattern suggests additional specialized roles in particular circuits.