This gene encodes a member of the vaccinia-related kinase (VRK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases. In both human and mouse, this gene has substitutions at several residues within the ATP binding motifs that in other kinases have been shown to be required for catalysis. In vitro assays indicate the protein lacks phosphorylation activity. The protein, however, likely retains its substrate binding capability. This gene is widely expressed in human tissues and its protein localizes to the nucleus. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcripts encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
Function: Inactive kinase that suppresses ERK activity by promoting phosphatase activity of DUSP3 which specifically dephosphorylates and inactivates ERK in the nucleus (By similarity).