Overview:

NUAK1 or SNF1/AMP kinase-related kinase (SNARK) is a member of the NUAK family of SNF1-like kinase 1 that is also known as AMPK-related protein kinase 5 (ARK5). ARK5 is a tumor cell survival factor that is activated by AKT and acts as an ATM kinase under conditions of nutrient starvation (1). NUAK1 is highly expressed in heart and brain, and at lower levels in skeletal muscle, kidney, ovary, placenta, lung, and liver. NUAK1 is involved in tolerance to glucose starvation and suppresses Fas-induced apoptosis by phosphorylation of CASP6, thus suppressing the activation of the caspase and the subsequent cleavage of CFLAR (2).

Gene Aliases:

ARK5; KIAA0537

Genbank Number:

NM_014840

References:

1. Suzuki, A. et.al: Identification of a novel protein kinase mediating Akt survival signaling to the ATM protein. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 48-53, 2003.

2. Lizcano J.M. et.al: LKB1 is a master kinase that activates 13 kinases of the AMPK subfamily, including MARK/PAR-1. EMBO J. 23:833-843, 2004.