Serine/threonine-protein kinase involved in various processes such as p38/MAPK14 stress-activated MAPK cascade, DNA damage response and regulation of cytoskeleton stability. Phosphorylates MAP2K3, MAP2K6 and MARK2. Acts as an activator of the p38/MAPK14 stress-activated MAPK cascade by mediating phosphorylation and subsequent activation of the upstream MAP2K3 and MAP2K6 kinases. Involved in G protein-coupled receptor signaling to p38/MAPK14. In response to DNA damage, involved in the G2/M transition DNA damage checkpoint by activating the p38/MAPK14 stress-activated MAPK cascade, probably by mediating phosphorylation of MAP2K3 and MAP2K6. Acts as a regulator of cytoskeleton stability by phosphorylating 'Thr-208' of MARK2, leading to activate MARK2 kinase activity and subsequent phosphorylation and detachment of MAPT/TAU from microtubules. Also acts as a regulator of apoptosis: regulates apoptotic morphological changes, including cell contraction, membrane blebbing and apoptotic bodies formation via activation of the MAPK8/JNK cascade. Plays an essential role in the regulation of neuronal development in the central nervous system (PubMed:33565190). Also plays a role in the regulation of neuronal migration to the cortical plate (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q5F2E8, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12665513, ECO:0000269|PubMed:13679851, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16407310, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17396146, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17900936, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33565190}. This is the function of TAOK1 (TAO kinase 1, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000160551).