Serine/threonine kinase that acts as an essential activator of the Wnt signaling pathway. Recruited to promoters of Wnt target genes and required to activate their expression. May act by phosphorylating TCF4/TCF7L2. Appears to act upstream of the JUN N-terminal pathway. May play a role in the response to environmental stress. Part of a signaling complex composed of NEDD4, RAP2A and TNIK which regulates neuronal dendrite extension and arborization during development. More generally, it may play a role in cytoskeletal rearrangements and regulate cell spreading. Phosphorylates SMAD1 on Thr-322.
Subcellular locations: Nucleus, Cytoplasm, Recycling endosome, Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton
Associated with recycling endosomes and the cytoskeletal fraction upon RAP2A overexpression.
Expressed ubiquitously. Highest levels observed in heart, brain and skeletal muscle. Expressed in normal colonic epithelia and colorectal cancer tissues.