Calcium- and diacylglycerol-independent serine/ threonine-protein kinase that plays a general protective role against apoptotic stimuli, is involved in NF-kappa-B activation, cell survival, differentiation and polarity, and contributes to the regulation of microtubule dynamics in the early secretory pathway. Is necessary for BCR-ABL oncogene-mediated resistance to apoptotic drug in leukemia cells, protecting leukemia cells against drug-induced apoptosis. In cultured neurons, prevents amyloid beta protein-induced apoptosis by interrupting cell death process at a very early step.

In glioblastoma cells, may function downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI(3)K) and PDPK1 in the promotion of cell survival by phosphorylating and inhibiting the pro-apoptotic factor BAD. Can form a protein complex in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with PARD6A and ECT2 and regulate ECT2 oncogenic activity by phosphorylation, which in turn promotes transformed growth and invasion. In response to nerve growth factor (NGF), acts downstream of SRC to phosphorylate and activate IRAK1, allowing the subsequent activation of NF-kappa-B and neuronal cell survival.

Functions in the organization of the apical domain in epithelial cells by phosphorylating EZR. This step is crucial for activation and normal distribution of EZR at the early stages of intestinal epithelial cell differentiation. Forms a protein complex with LLGL1 and PARD6B independently of PARD3 to regulate epithelial cell polarity.

Plays a role in microtubule dynamics in the early secretory pathway through interaction with RAB2A and GAPDH and recruitment to vesicular tubular clusters (VTCs). In human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC), is activated by saturated fatty acids and mediates lipid-induced apoptosis. Involved in early synaptic long term potentiation phase in CA1 hippocampal cells and short term memory formation (By similarity)

Forms a complex with SQSTM1 and MP2K5 (By similarity). Interacts directly with SQSTM1 (Probable). Interacts with IKBKB.

Interacts with PARD6A, PARD6B and PARD6G. Part of a quaternary complex containing aPKC, PARD3, a PARD6 protein (PARD6A, PARD6B or PARD6G) and a GTPase protein (CDC42 or RAC1). Part of a complex with LLGL1 and PARD6B.

Interacts with ADAP1/CENTA1. Interaction with SMG1, through the ZN-finger domain, activates the kinase activity. Interacts with CDK7.

Forms a complex with RAB2A and GAPDH involved in recruitment onto the membrane of vesicular tubular clusters (VTCs). Interacts with ECT2 ('Thr-359' phosphorylated form). Interacts with VAMP2 (PubMed:17313651).

Interacts with WDFY2 (via WD repeats 1-3) (PubMed:16792529)

Predominantly expressed in lung and brain, but also expressed at lower levels in many tissues including pancreatic islets. Highly expressed in non-small cell lung cancers

The PB1 domain mediates interaction with SQSTM1

The C1 zinc finger does not bind diacylglycerol (DAG)

The pseudosubstrate motif resembles the sequence around sites phosphorylated on target proteins, except the presence of a non-phosphorylatable residue in place of Ser, it modulates activity by competing with substrates