Function and inhibition of DYRK1A: Emerging roles of treating multiple human diseases

Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase and the most studied member of the Dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase (DYRK) family. It has been shown that it participates in the development of plenty of diseases, and both the low or high expression of DYRK1A protein could lead to disorder. Thus, DYRK1A is recognized as a key target for the therapy for these diseases, and the studies on natural or synthetic DYRK1A inhibitors have become more and more popular. Here, we provide a comprehensive review for DYRK1A from the structure and function of DYRK1A, the roles of DYRK1A in various types of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases, and kinds of cancers, and the studies of its natural and synthetic inhibitors.