Death-associated protein kinase 2 (Dapk2)

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine kinase involved in multiple cellular signaling pathways that activate cell survival, apoptosis, and autophagy. Capable of regulating both type I apoptotic and type II autophagic cell death signals.

The former involves caspase activation, chromatin and mitochondrial condensation while the latter entails caspase-independent cell death in conjunction with accumulation of adult autophagic vesicles, plasma membrane blebs, and nuclear condensation without DNA degradation. Mediator of anoikis and a suppressor of beta- catenin-dependent anchorage-independent growth of malignant epithelial cells.