Serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in M phase by acting as a regulator of mitosis entry and maintenance. Acts by promoting the inactivation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) during M phase: does not directly inhibit PP2A but acts by mediating phosphorylation and subsequent activation of ARPP19 and ENSA at ‘Ser-62’ and ‘Ser-67’, respectively. ARPP19 and ENSA are phosphatase inhibitors that specifically inhibit the PPP2R2D (PR55-delta) subunit of PP2A. Inactivation of PP2A during M phase is essential to keep cyclin-B1-CDK1 activity high. Following DNA damage, it is also involved in checkpoint recovery by being inhibited. Phosphorylates histone protein in vitro; however such activity is unsure in vivo. May be involved in megakaryocyte differentiation.
