Serine-arginine protein kinases: new players in neurodegenerative diseases?

Serine-arginine protein kinases (SRPKs) are a group of serine kinases that recognize and phosphorylate protein substrates with serine-arginine dipeptide repeats. They are mainly involved in regulating pre-mRNA splicing via phosphorylating splicing factors, such as ASF/SF2 and SC35. Nevertheless, the functions of SRPKs in the nervous system are sketchy, although the kinases have significant expression in neurons. Our recent studies demonstrate that one of the SRPK members, SRPK2, participates in the neuronal survival, cell cycle progression, and memory determination in Alzheimer's disease. SRPKs are thus a group of unrecognized proteins that may facilitate the pathological progression of disorders caused by neurodegeneration. In this review, we will update our knowledge on SRPKs' functions in various cellular activities and discuss their potential role in neurodegenerative disorders.