O43293

The DAPK family including DAPK, DAPK2, and DAPK3 with homology in their catalytic domain. DAPK3 also known as DLK, ZIPK induces morphological changes in apoptosis when overexpressed in mammalian cells. These results suggest that DAPK3 may play a role in the induction of apoptosis. DAPK3 was also identified as a myosin light chain kinase, demonstrating ability to phosphorylate the regulatory light chain of myosin II in a Ca2+/calmodulin-independent manner. In addition to an amino-terminal kinase domain, DAPK3 contains a carboxy-terminal leucine zipper domain that mediates interaction with leucine zipper transcription factors such as ATF4.