Adaptor Associated Protein Kinase 1 (AAK1)

Adaptor-associated protein kinase 1 also known as AP2-associated protein kinase 1 is an enzyme encoded by the AAK1 gene. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described, but their biological validity has not been determined. Adaptor-related protein complex 2 (AP-2 complexes) functions during receptor-mediated endocytosis to trigger clathrin assembly, interact with membrane-bound receptors, and recruit encodytic accessory factors. This gene encodes a member of the SNF1 subfamily of Ser/Thr protein kinases. The protein interacts with and phosphorylates a subunit of the AP-2 complex, which promotes binding of AP-2 to sorting signals found in membrane-bound receptors and subsequent receptor endocytosis. Its kinase activity is stimulated by clathrin.