Serine/threonine kinase that plays an essential role in regulating inflammatory responses to foreign agents (PubMed:10581243, PubMed:11839743, PubMed:12692549, PubMed:12702806, PubMed:14703513, PubMed:15367631, PubMed:15485837, PubMed:18583960, PubMed:21138416, PubMed:23453971, PubMed:23453972, PubMed:23746807, PubMed:25636800, PubMed:26611359, PubMed:32404352, PubMed:34363755, PubMed:32298923). Following activation of toll-like receptors by viral or bacterial components, associates with TRAF3 and TANK and phosphorylates interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) IRF3 and IRF7 as well as DDX3X (PubMed:12692549, PubMed:12702806, PubMed:14703513, PubMed:15367631, PubMed:18583960, PubMed:25636800). This activity allows subsequent homodimerization and nuclear translocation of the IRFs leading to transcriptional activation of pro-inflammatory and antiviral genes including IFNA and IFNB (PubMed:12702806, PubMed:15367631, PubMed:25636800, PubMed:32972995). In order to establish such an antiviral state, TBK1 form several different complexes whose composition depends on the type of cell and cellular stimuli (PubMed:23453971, PubMed:23453972, PubMed:23746807). Plays a key role in IRF3 activation: acts by first phosphorylating innate adapter proteins MAVS, STING1 and TICAM1 on their pLxIS motif, leading to recruitment of IRF3, thereby licensing IRF3 for phosphorylation by TBK1 (PubMed:25636800, PubMed:30842653, PubMed:37926288). Phosphorylated IRF3 dissociates from the adapter proteins, dimerizes, and then enters the nucleus to induce expression of interferons (PubMed:25636800). Thus, several scaffolding molecules including FADD, TRADD, MAVS, AZI2, TANK or TBKBP1/SINTBAD can be recruited to the TBK1-containing- complexes (PubMed:21931631). Under particular conditions, functions as a NF-kappa-B effector by phosphorylating NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha/NFKBIA, IKBKB or RELA to translocate NF-Kappa-B to the nucleus (PubMed:10783893, PubMed:15489227). Restricts bacterial proliferation by phosphorylating the autophagy receptor OPTN/Optineurin on 'Ser-177', thus enhancing LC3 binding affinity and antibacterial autophagy (PubMed:21617041). Phosphorylates SMCR8 component of the C9orf72-SMCR8 complex, promoting autophagosome maturation (PubMed:27103069). Phosphorylates ATG8 proteins MAP1LC3C and GABARAPL2, thereby preventing their delipidation and premature removal from nascent autophagosomes (PubMed:31709703). Seems to play a role in energy balance regulation by sustaining a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation in obesity, which leads to a negative impact on insulin sensitivity (By similarity). Attenuates retroviral budding by phosphorylating the endosomal sorting complex required for transport-I (ESCRT-I) subunit VPS37C (PubMed:21270402). Phosphorylates Borna disease virus (BDV) P protein (PubMed:16155125). Plays an essential role in the TLR3- and IFN- dependent control of herpes virus HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in the central nervous system (PubMed:22851595). Acts both as a positive and negative regulator of the mTORC1 complex, depending on the context: activates mTORC1 in response to growth factors by catalyzing phosphorylation of MTOR, while it limits the mTORC1 complex by promoting phosphorylation of RPTOR (PubMed:29150432, PubMed:31530866). Acts as a positive regulator of the mTORC2 complex by mediating phosphorylation of MTOR, leading to increased phosphorylation and activation of AKT1 (By similarity). Phosphorylates and activates AKT1 (PubMed:21464307). Involved in the regulation of TNF-induced RIPK1- mediated cell death, probably acting via CYLD phosphorylation that in turn controls RIPK1 ubiquitination status (PubMed:34363755). Also participates in the differentiation of T follicular regulatory cells together with the receptor ICOS (PubMed:27135603). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q9WUN2, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10581243, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10783893, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11839743, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12692549, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12702806, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14703513, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15367631, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15485837, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15489227, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16155125, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18583960, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21138416, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21270402, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21464307, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21617041, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21931631, ECO:0000269|PubMed:22851595, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23453971, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23453972, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23746807, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25636800, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26611359, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27103069, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27135603, ECO:0000269|PubMed:29150432, ECO:0000269|PubMed:30842653, ECO:0000269|PubMed:31530866, ECO:0000269|PubMed:31709703, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32298923, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32972995, ECO:0000269|PubMed:34363755, ECO:0000269|PubMed:37926288}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000183735 (TBK1, TANK binding kinase 1).