Overview:

PAK7 (also known as PAK5) is a novel human PAK family kinase that contains a CDC42/Rac1 interactive binding (CRIB) motif at the N-terminus and a Ste20-like kinase domain at the C-terminus (1). The p21-activated kinase (PAK) family of protein kinases has recently attracted considerable attention as an effector of Rho family of small G proteins and as an upstream regulator of MAPK signalling pathways during cellular events such as re-arrangement of the cytoskeleton and apoptosis. PAK7 like the other Paks has been implicated in the regulation of cell morphology, motility and transformation.

References:

1. Pandey, A. et al: Cloning and characterization of PAK5, a novel member of mammalian p21-activated kinase-II subfamily that is predominantly expressed in brain. Oncogene. 2002 May 30;21(24):3939-48.