p21 Protein Activated Kinase 6 (PAK6)

PAK6 encodes a protein that shares a high degree of sequence similarity with p21-activated kinase (PAK) family members. PAK kinases are implicated in the regulation of a number of cellular processes, including cytoskeleton rearrangement, apoptosis and the MAP kinase signaling pathway.

The protein encoded by this gene was found to interact with androgen receptor (AR), which is a steroid hormone-dependent transcription factor that is important for male sexual differentiation and development. The p21-activated protein kinase 6 gene was found to be highly expressed in testis and prostate tissues and the encoded protein was shown to cotranslocate into the nucleus with AR in response to androgen.