NUAK Family SNF1 Like Kinase 1 (NUAK1)

The deduced 661-amino acid protein shares about 52% identity over 252 amino acids with plant SNF1-related protein kinase. NUAK1 had an apparent molecular mass of about 75 kD by SDS-PAGE. RT-PCR detected highest expression in heart and brain, followed by skeletal muscle, kidney, ovary, placenta, lung, and liver. Little to no expression was detected in other tissues examined.The phosphorylation was stimulated by AMP and did not require accessory binding proteins. Transfection of ARK5 also increased the survival of HepG2 cells exposed to glucose starvation and reduced oxygen tension. Increased cell survival was accompanied by phosphorylation of ARK5 on ser600 by AKT, which activated ARK5 kinase activity. Activated ARK5 phosphorylated ATM, which led to phosphorylation of p53.