Enables protein kinase activity. Predicted to be involved in negative regulation of translation and regulation of translational initiation. Predicted to act upstream of or within protein phosphorylation. Predicted to be active in cytoplasm and nucleus. Is expressed in several structures, including eye; heart; integument; liver; and pleuroperitoneal region. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Alzheimer's disease; Huntington's disease; Parkinson's disease; dystonia 33; and hepatitis B. Orthologous to human EIF2AK2 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 2).