The activated kinase acts on a variety of targets. Likely to be the GTPase effector that links the Rho-related GTPases to the JNK MAP kinase pathway. Activated by CDC42 and RAC1. Involved in dissolution of stress fibers and reorganization of focal complexes. Involved in regulation of microtubule biogenesis through phosphorylation of TBCB. Activity is inhibited in cells undergoing apoptosis, potentially due to binding of CDC2L1 and CDC2L2.
Specificity
Natural and recombinant Rat Serine/threonine-protein kinase PAK 1
Homodimer in its autoinhibited state. Active as monomer. Interacts tightly with GTP-bound but not GDP-bound CDC42/P21 and RAC1. Binds to the caspase-cleaved p110 isoform of CDC2L1 and CDC2L2, p110C, but not the full-length proteins. Component of cytoplasmic complexes, which also contain PXN, ARHGEF6 and GIT1. Interacts with ARHGEF7. Also interacts with CRIPAK. Interacts with SCRIB. Probably found in a ternary complex composed of DSCAM, PAK1 and RAC1. Interacts with DSCAM (via cytoplasmic domain); the interaction is direct and enhanced in presence of RAC1.