Calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine kinase involved in multiple cellular signaling pathways that trigger cell survival, apoptosis, and autophagy. Regulates both type I apoptotic and type II autophagic cell death signals, depending on the cellular setting. The former is caspase-dependent, while the latter is caspase-independent and is characterized by the accumulation of autophagic vesicles. Acts as a mediator of anoikis and a suppressor of beta-catenin-dependent anchorage-independent growth of malignant epithelial cells. May play a role in granulocytic maturation (PubMed:17347302). Regulates granulocytic motility by controlling cell spreading and polarization (PubMed:24163421). Isoform 2 is not regulated by calmodulin. It can phosphorylate MYL9. It can induce membrane blebbing and autophagic cell death. ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Activated by Ca(2+)/calmodulin. Regulated by a double locking mechanism, involving autophosphorylation at Ser-318, calmodulin binding, and dimerization. In the inactive state, Ser-318 is phosphorylated, and the kinase is dimeric. Activation involves: dephosphorylation at Ser-318, release-of-autoinhibition mechanism where calmodulin binding induces a conformational change that relieves the steric block of the active site by the autoinhibitory domain, and generation of the monomeric active form of the kinase. Homodimer in its autoinhibited state. Active as monomer (By similarity). Isoform 2 but not isoform 1 can interact with ATF4. Interacts with 14-3-3 proteins YWHAB, YWHAE, YWHAG, YWHAH, YWHAQ, YWHAZ and SFN; the interaction requires DAPK2 phosphorylation at Thr-369 and suppresses DAPK2 kinase activity and DAPK2-induced apoptosis (PubMed:26047703). Expressed in neutrophils and eosinophils (PubMed:24163421). Isoform 2 is expressed in embryonic stem cells (at protein level). Isoform 1 is ubiquitously expressed in all tissue types examined with high levels in heart, lung and skeletal muscle. Up-regulated during granulocytic maturation (PubMed:17347302, PubMed:24163421). The autoinhibitory domain sterically blocks the substrate peptide-binding site by making both hydrophobic and electrostatic contacts with the kinase core. Autophosphorylation at Ser-318 inhibits its catalytic activity. Dephosphorylated at Ser-318 in response to activated Fas and TNF-alpha receptors. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. CAMK Ser/Thr protein kinase family. DAP kinase subfamily.