LIMK1

LIMK1 encodes the LIM domain kinase 1 protein, a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates and inactivates cofilin, thereby regulating actin filament dynamics critical for cell migration and morphology. Its common aliases include KIAA0138. LIMK1 functions downstream of Rho GTPases, integrating signals from RhoA/ROCK and Rac1/PAK pathways to modulate cytoskeletal reorganization.
Aberrant LIMK1 activity is linked to cancer metastasis, where overexpression promotes invasive phenotypes in breast and colorectal cancers. It also plays a role in neurodevelopmental disorders like Williams syndrome due to hemizygous deletion. Preclinical studies investigate LIMK1 inhibitors (e.g., LIMKi3) as potential antimetastatic agents, targeting its kinase domain to disrupt actin-dependent processes in cancer cells.