Nuak kinase signaling in development and disease of the central nervous system

Protein kinases represent important signaling hubs for a variety of biological functions. Many kinases are traditionally studied for their roles in cancer cell biology, but recent advances in neuroscience research show repurposed kinase function to be important for nervous system development and function. Two members of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) related family, NUAK1 and NUAK2, have drawn attention in neuroscience due to their mutations in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and intellectual disability (ID). Furthermore, Nuak kinases have also been implicated in tauopathy and other disorders of aging. This review highlights what is known about the Nuak kinases in nervous system development and disease and explores the possibility of Nuak kinases as targets for therapeutic innovation.