The protein encoded by this gene is a member of serine/threonine protein kinase family. This kinase contains a dual leucine-zipper motif, and has been shown to form dimers/oligomers through its leucine-zipper motif. This kinase can phosphorylate and activate MAPK8/JNK, MAP2K7/MKK7, which suggests a role in the JNK signaling pathway.[6]
Ikeda A, Sakuma H, Masaki M, Kozutsumi Y, Oka S, Inazawa J, Kawasaki T (2002). "Genomic organization and fine-mapping of the human leucine zipper-bearing kinase (LZK) gene". J. Biochem. Mol. Biol. Biophys. 6 (2): 113–7. doi:10.1080/10258140290027243. PMID12186766.
Ikeda A, Hasegawa K, Masaki M, Moriguchi T, Nishida E, Kozutsumi Y, Oka S, Kawasaki T (2002). "Mixed lineage kinase LZK forms a functional signaling complex with JIP-1, a scaffold protein of the c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase pathway". J. Biochem. 130 (6): 773–81. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a003048. PMID11726277.
Schultz SJ, Nigg EA (1994). "Identification of 21 novel human protein kinases, including 3 members of a family related to the cell cycle regulator nimA of Aspergillus nidulans". Cell Growth Differ. 4 (10): 821–30. PMID8274451.