This gene encodes a protein that shares a high degree of sequence similarity with p21-activated kinase (PAK) family members. The proteins of this family are Rac/Cdc42-associated Ste20-like Ser/Thr protein kinases, characterized by a highly conserved amino-terminal Cdc42/Rac interactive binding (CRIB) domain and a carboxyl-terminal kinase domain. PAK kinases are implicated in the regulation of a number of cellular processes, including cytoskeleton rearrangement, apoptosis and the MAP kinase signaling pathway. The protein encoded by this gene was found to interact with androgen receptor (AR), which is a steroid hormone-dependent transcription factor that is important for male sexual differentiation and development. Yang F., J. Biol. Chem. 276:15345-15353(2001)Wagner T., Submitted (FEB-1999) to the EMBL/GenBank/DDBJ databasesSjoeblom T., Science 314:268-274(2006)