The protein encoded by this gene is a serine/threonine protein kinase involved in many cellular processes, including Golgi body membrane integrity and transport, cell migration and differentiation, MAPK8/JNK1 and Ras pathway signaling, MAPK1/3 (ERK1/2) pathway signaling, cell survival, and regulation of cell shape and adhesion. Serine/threonine-protein kinase that converts transient diacylglycerol (DAG) signals into prolonged physiological effects downstream of PKC, and is involved in the regulation of MAPK8/JNK1 and Ras signaling, Golgi membrane integrity and trafficking, cell survival through NF-kappa-B activation, cell migration, cell differentiation by mediating HDAC7 nuclear export, cell proliferation via MAPK1/3 (ERK1/2) signaling, and plays a role in cardiac hypertrophy, VEGFA-induced angiogenesis, genotoxic-induced apoptosis and flagellin-stimulated inflammatory response.