Doublecortin-like kinases (DCLK1, DCLK2 and DCLK3) are implicated in many cancers and neurological disorders. DCLK1 and DCLK2, classified as Microtubule-Associated Proteins, play a critical role in regulating the assembly of microtubules, major components of the cell cytoskeleton.
We uncovered that DCLK1 enzymatic activity is a critical driver of microtubule assembly (Patel et al., Structure 2016, 24(9):1550-61) and used structural biology to guide the design of a DCLK1 selective compound to investigate its role in cancer. In contrast to DCLK1, the role of DCLK2 and DCLK3 is less understood.
We aim to uncover the function of the DCLK family by using a combination of biochemistry, cell biology, structural biology, imaging and chemical biology. This research will provide the basis for developing a novel class of compounds that therapeutically target the DCLK family.