DCLK2 is a serine/threonine protein kinase with reduced calcium/calmodulin dependence compared to other CaMK family members [UniProt]. It localizes to the cytoplasm and associates with microtubule cytoskeleton organization [GO Annotations]. DCLK2 functions as an upstream activator of TBK1, directly phosphorylating it at Ser172 to promote oncogenic signaling in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) 1. The DCLK2-TBK1 axis drives metabolic dysregulation and tumorigenesis, with the predominant DCLK2203 isoform enhancing ccRCC growth in vivo 12. Beyond ccRCC, DCLK2 promotes breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via TCF4/β-catenin signaling 3. Neurobiologically, DCLK2 is expressed in both proliferating and postmitotic neurons during development 4. In mice, combined Dcx and Dclk2 deficiency causes hippocampal dysmaturation, reduced inhibitory synaptic tone, and spontaneous seizures, suggesting compensatory roles in neuronal development 5. Genetic variation upstream of DCLK2 is associated with psychological resilience to stress in humans, with expression regulated as an eQTL in frontal cortex 6. DCLK2 expression is dysregulated in chr4 lymphocytic leukemia through retrotransposon hypomethylation, correlating with reduced patient survival 7.