Death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3)

Serine/threonine kinase that is involved in the regulation of apoptosis, autophagy, transcription, translation and actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Regulates both type I (caspase- dependent) apoptotic and type II (caspase-independent) autophagic cell deaths signal, based on the cellular setting.

Involved in regulation of starvation-induced autophagy. In smooth muscle, regulates myosin either by phosphorylating MYL12B and MYL9 or through inhibition of smooth muscle myosin phosphatase (SMPP1M) through phosphorylation of PPP1R12A; the inhibition of SMPP1M functions to enhance muscle responsiveness to Ca(2+) and encourage a contractile state.