Serine/threonine-protein kinase NLK (Nlk)

Serine/threonine-protein kinase that modulates a variety of transcription factors with key roles in cell fate determination. Positive effector of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway, acting downstream of WNT5A, MAP3K7/TAK1 and HIPK2.

Activation of this pathway causes binding to and phosphorylation of the histone methyltransferase SETDB1. The NLK- SETDB1 complex subsequently interacts with PPARG, leading to methylation of PPARG target promoters in histone H3K9 and transcriptional silencing.