Description
PAK3, a member of the STE20 subfamily of Ser/Thr protein kinases, acts on a variety of targets. PAK3 interacts tightly with GTP-bound but not GDP-bound CDC42/p21 and RAC1. It shows highly specific binding to the SH3 domains of phospholipase C-gamma and of adapter protein NCK. This protein is highly expressed in postmitotic neurons of the developing and postnatal cerebral cortex and hippocampus. PAK3 is autophosphorylated when activated by CDC42/p21. Defects in PAK3 are the cause of non-specific X-linked nonsyndromic mental retardation type 30 (MRX30). The protein structure contains 1 CRIB domain