The present invention relates to compositions and methods for regulating ROC-mediated death-associated protein kinase (DAPk) activity. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for treating or ameliorating cancer as well as pathologies associated with neuronal cell death, such as epilepsy and hypoxia/ischemia acute brain injury. The present invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agents that regulate ROC-mediated DAPk activation.
