Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 2 (MARK2), also known as EMK1 (ELKL motif kinase 1) or Par1b, is a 788 amino acid protein that is a member of the protein kinase superfamily, MARK subfamily. Highly expressed in heart, brain, skeletal muscle and pancreas, MARK2 is essential for the asymmetric development of membrane domains around polarized epithelial cells. Activation of MARK2 by phosphorylation on Thr 208 allows the protein to modulate the building of a columnar versus a hepatic epithelial cell. MARK2 contains one KA1 (kinase-associated) domain, one protein kinase domain and one UBA domain. MARK2 is expressed as 14 isoforms produced by alternative splicing events. Some of these isoforms may function in graft rejection.
