Brain Specific Kinase-1 BRSK1/SAD-B associates with lipid rafts: modulation of kinase activity by lipid environment

► A pool of brain BRSK1, but not BRSK2 or LKB1, localizes at membrane lipid rafts. ► Brain BRSK1 is palmitoylated. ► Raft-associated BRSK1 has higher activity than BRSK1 from non-raft environment. ► Small multilamellar vesicles made with lipids from rafts enhance BRSK1 activity. ► BRSK1-raft interaction: a new activating mechanism additional to LKB1 phosphorylation.