Stress-activated, pro-apoptotic kinase which, following caspase-cleavage, enters the nucleus and induces chromatin condensation followed by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Key component of the Hippo signaling pathway which plays a pivotal role in organ size control and tumor suppression by restricting proliferation and promoting apoptosis. The core of this pathway is composed of a kinase cascade wherein STK3/MST2 and STK4/MST1, in complex with its regulatory protein SAV1, phosphorylates and activates LATS1/2 in complex with its regulatory protein MOB1, which in turn phosphorylates and inactivates YAP1 oncoprotein and WWTR1/TAZ . Phosphorylation of YAP1 by LATS2 inhibits its translocation into the nucleus to regulate cellular genes important for cell proliferation, cell death, and cell migration. STK3/MST2 and STK4/MST1 are required to repress proliferation of mature hepatocytes, to prevent activation of facultative adult liver stem cells (oval cells), and to inhibit tumor formation. Phosphorylates NKX2-1 (By similarity). Phosphorylates NEK2 and plays a role in centrosome disjunction by regulating the localization of NEK2 to centrosome, and its ability to phosphorylate CROCC and CEP250 . In conjunction with SAV1, activates the transcriptional activity of ESR1 through the modulation of its phosphorylation. Positively regulates RAF1 activation via suppression of the inhibitory phosphorylation of RAF1 on 'Ser-259'. Phosphorylates MOBKL1A and RASSF2. Phosphorylates MOBKL1B on 'Thr-74'. Acts cooperatively with MOBKL1B to activate STK38.
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Nucleus, Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton, Microtubule organizing center, Centrosome
The caspase-cleaved form cycles between nucleus and cytoplasm (, ). Phosphorylation at Thr-117 leads to inhibition of nuclear translocation .
Expressed at high levels in adult kidney, skeletal and placenta tissues and at very low levels in adult heart, lung and brain tissues.