Site-directed mutagenesis of the glycine-rich loop of death associated protein kinase (DAPK) identifies it as a key structure for catalytic activity

► Glutamine-23 in Death associated protein kinase altered by point mutation. ► X-ray structures reveal localized changes in glycine-rich region. ► Reduced catalytic efficiency observed relative to wild type. > First reported structures with correlating activity of DAPK mutants.