Serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in M phase by acting as a regulator of mitosis entry and maintenance. Acts by promoting the inactivation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) during M phase: does not directly inhibit PP2A but acts by mediating phosphorylation and subsequent activation of ARPP19 and ENSA at 'Ser-62' and 'Ser-67', respectively. ARPP19 and ENSA are phosphatase inhibitors that specifically inhibit the PPP2R2D (PR55-delta) subunit of PP2A. Inactivation of PP2A during M phase is essential to keep cyclin-B1-CDK1 activity high. Following DNA damage, it is also involved in checkpoint recovery by being inhibited (By similarity). ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] During interphase is mainly nuclear, upon nuclear envelope breakdown localizes at the cytoplasm and during mitosis at the centrosomes. Phosphorylation at Thr-745 by CDK1 during M phase activates its kinase activity. Maximum phosphorylation occurs in prometaphase (By similarity). Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. AGC Ser/Thr protein kinase family.