TAOK2 Protein, Human (Active, sf9, GST)

TAOK2, a serine/threonine-protein kinase, engages in diverse cellular processes, including membrane blebbing, apoptotic bodies formation, DNA damage response, and the MAPK14/p38 MAPK stress-activated MAPK cascade. It exhibits a broad substrate specificity, phosphorylating itself, MBP, activated MAPK8, MAP2K3, MAP2K6, and tubulins. TAOK2 activates the MAPK14/p38 MAPK signaling pathway by specifically activating and phosphorylating the upstream MAP2K3 and MAP2K6 kinases. In the context of the DNA damage response, TAOK2 contributes to the G2/M transition DNA damage checkpoint by orchestrating the activation of the p38/MAPK14 stress-activated MAPK cascade, potentially through the phosphorylation of upstream MAP2K3 and MAP2K6 kinases. While isoform 1 participates in apoptotic morphological changes, including cell contraction, membrane blebbing, and apoptotic bodies formation, isoform 2 is specifically involved in PCDH8 endocytosis, triggered by homophilic interactions between PCDH8 extracellular domains. Isoform 2 phosphorylates and activates MAPK14/p38 MAPK, leading to PCDH8 endocytosis and CDH2 cointernalization. Both isoforms contribute to MAPK14 phosphorylation. Moreover, isoform 1, but not isoform 2, modulates microtubule organization and stability, independent of its kinase activity, and prevents MAP3K7-mediated activation of CHUK, thereby inhibiting NF-kappa-B activation but not that of MAPK8/JNK. Additionally, isoform 2 is implicated in the osmotic stress-MAPK8 pathway.