CDC-like kinase 3 (CLK3)

CDC-like kinase 3 (CLK3) belongs to the CLK/LAMMER family of dual-specificity protein kinases, named after the conserved LAMMER sequence motif within the catalytic domain. Unlike receptor or cytoplasmic signaling kinases, CLK3 acts predominantly in the nucleus, where it phosphorylates serine/arginine-rich (SR) splicing factors on serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues. This phosphorylation modulates the localization and activity of SR proteins, thereby shaping alternative pre-mRNA splicing patterns and expanding proteome diversity. Altered CLK3 expression has been reported in several cancers, and its control of splicing factor dynamics has made it a subject of interest for therapies directed against aberrant splicing programs.