Cyclin-dependent-like kinase 5 (CDK5)

Proline-directed serine/threonine-protein kinase essential for neuronal cell cycle arrest and differentiation and may be involved in apoptotic cell death in neuronal diseases by activating abortive cell cycle re-entry. Regulates several neuronal development and physiological processes including neuronal survival, migration and differentiation, axonal and neurite growth, synaptogenesis, oligodendrocyte differentiation, synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission, by phosphorylating key proteins.

Activated by interaction with CDK5R1 (p35) and CDK5R2 (p39), especially in post-mitotic neurons, and boosts CDK5R1 (p35) expression in an autostimulation loop. Phosphorylates many downstream substrates like Rho and Ras family small GTPases (e.