Mutations in the gene encoding the protein kinase CDKL5 cause a debilitating neurodevelopmental disease termed CDKL5 disorder. The impact of these mutations on CDKL5 function is poorly understood because the substrates and cellular processes controlled by CDKL5 are unclear. Here, we describe a quantitative phosphoproteomic screening which identified MAP1S, CEP131 and DLG5—regulators of microtubule and centrosome function—as cellular substrates of CDKL5. Antibodies against MAP1S phospho‐Ser ⁹⁰⁰ and CEP131 phospho‐Ser ³⁵ confirmed CDKL5‐dependent phosphorylation of these targets in human cells. The phospho‐acceptor serine residues in MAP1S, CEP131 and DLG5 lie in the motif RPX S A, although CDKL5 can tolerate residues other than Ala immediately C‐terminal to the phospho‐acceptor serine. We provide insight into the control of CDKL5 activity and show that pathogenic mutations in CDKL5 cause a major reduction in CDKL5 activity in vitro and in cells. These data reveal the first cellular substrates of CDKL5, which may represent important biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of CDKL5 disorder, and illuminate the functions of this poorly characterized kinase.

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI) is a mass spectrometry technique used for the analysis of macromolecules on an intact tissue of interest, thereby allowing the assessment of molecular signatures in health and disease in the anatomical context. MALDI‐MSI is increasingly used to investigate neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders at the molecular level, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and schizophrenia (SCZ). These illnesses are characterized by complex neuropathological processes, and conventional proteomic techniques investigating brain tissue homogenates have inherent limitations in determining the precise anatomical or cellular location of proteomic findings. In this article, we review MALDI‐MSI studies on neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, and explore whether the technique could accelerate the translation of proteomic information into improved understanding and ultimately better therapeutic applications.