Enables protein serine/threonine kinase activity. Involved in embryo development and protein phosphorylation. Predicted to be active in cytoplasm and nucleus. Is expressed in several structures, including hypodermis; intestine; nervous system; pharyngeal-intestinal valve; and reproductive system. Orthologous to human SRPK1 (SRSF protein kinase 1); SRPK2 (SRSF protein kinase 2); and SRPK3 (SRSF protein kinase 3).
WB Description
spk-1 encodes a serine/threonine kinase orthologous to the highly conserved serine/arginine-rich protein kinases (SRPKs) that phosphorylate SR proteins, essential components of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery; SPK-1, required for embryogenesis and germline development, can directly bind and phosphorylate RSP-3 (CeSF2/ASF), an SR splicing factor homolog; SPK-1 is expressed predominantly in the adult germline; SPK-1 is homologous to human RSK2, which when mutated leads to Coffin-Lowry syndrome (OMIM:303600).