Serine/threonine-protein kinase PAK 1 (PAK1) is a ~60 kDa protein. Protein kinase involved in intracellular signaling pathways downstream of integrins and receptor-type kinases that plays an important role in cytoskeleton dynamics, in cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, apoptosis, mitosis, and in vesicle-mediated transport processes. Can directly phosphorylate BAD and protects cells against apoptosis. Activated by interaction with CDC42 and RAC1. Functions as a GTPase effector that links the Rho-related GTPases CDC42 and RAC1 to the JNK MAP kinase pathway. Phosphorylates and activates MAP2K1, and thereby mediates activation of downstream MAP kinases. 1. Zenke, FT. et al. (1999) The Journal of biological chemistry 274, 32565-73. PMID: 105518092. Manabe, R. et al. (2002) Journal of cell science 115, 1497-510. PMID: 118961973. Slack-Davis, JK. et al. (2003) The Journal of cell biology 162, 281-91. PMID: 128762774. Zhou, GL. et al. (2003) Molecular and cellular biology 23, 8058-69. PMID: 145859665. Zhou, H. et al. (2005) The Journal of biological chemistry 280, 10624-35. PMID: 156110886. Rider, L. et al. (2007) The Journal of biological chemistry 282, 30985-96. PMID: 177260287. Mayhew, MW. et al. (2007) Journal of cell science 120, 3911-8. PMID: 179890898. Harms, FL. et al. (2018) American journal of human genetics 103, 579-591. PMID: 302901539. Acconcia, F. et al. (2007) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104, 6782-7. PMID: 1742044710. Brown, JL. et al. (1996) Current biology : CB 6, 598-605. PMID: 8805275 | 
