Serine/threonine-protein kinase PAK 3 (PAK3)

Serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a role in many different different signaling pathways including cytoskeleton regulation, cell migration, or cell cycle regulation. Plays a role in dendrite spine morphogenesis as well as synapse formation and plasticity.

Activation by the binding of active CDC42 and RAC1 leads to a conformational change and a subsequent autophosphorylation on several serine and/or threonine residues. Phosphorylates MAPK4 and MAPK6 and activates the downstream target MAPKAPK5, a regulator of F-actin polymerization and cell migration.