Calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine kinase involved in multiple cellular signaling pathways that trigger cell survival, apoptosis, and autophagy. Regulates both type I apoptotic and type II autophagic cell death signals, depending on the cellular setting. The former is caspase-dependent, while the latter is caspase-independent and is characterized by the accumulation of autophagic vesicles. Acts as a mediator of anoikis and a suppressor of beta-catenin-dependent anchorage-independent growth of malignant epithelial cells. May play a role in granulocytic maturation . Regulates granulocytic motility by controlling cell spreading and polarization .
Isoform 2 is not regulated by calmodulin. It can phosphorylate MYL9. It can induce membrane blebbing and autophagic cell death.
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cytoplasmic vesicle, Autophagosome lumen
Expressed in neutrophils and eosinophils . Isoform 2 is expressed in embryonic stem cells (at protein level). Isoform 1 is ubiquitously expressed in all tissue types examined with high levels in heart, lung and skeletal muscle.