NUAK1

NUAK1, also called ARK5, is an AMPK-related kinase activated by LKB1 and further stimulated downstream of insulin-like growth factor and AKT signaling. It phosphorylates the myosin phosphatase targeting subunit MYPT1, accelerating stress fiber turnover and regulating cell adhesion, and it supports tumor cell survival under nutrient deprivation, invasion, and metastasis. In the nervous system, genetic studies in Drosophila and mice implicate NUAK1 in synaptic transmission and neuronal maintenance. The kinase has emerged as a vulnerability in several cancer models, and the selective inhibitor WZ4003 has been used extensively to dissect NUAK1-dependent phenotypes, supporting continued interest in NUAK1 as a therapeutic target in oncology and neuromuscular research.