May be involved in the remodeling of cytoskeletal components, such as alpha-tubulin, and in this way regulates neurite branching and elongation, as well as cell motility. ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Expressed in the brain, mainly in postmitotic neurons, including GABAergic neurons, but not in astrocytes (at protein level). Up-regulated during neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells treated with all-trans or 9-cis retinoic acid. The protein kinase domain is predicted to be catalytically inactive. Various anomalies in ULK4 gene have been reported for several cases of schizophrenia, schizophrenia plus bipolar disorder and autism. ULK4 gene has been proposed to be a rare susceptibility risk factor for a range of psychiatric diseases including schizophrenia. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. Ser/Thr protein kinase family. APG1/unc-51/ULK1 subfamily. Truncated N-terminus.