NUAK
isoforms, NUAK1 (ARK5) and NUAK2 (SNARK), are important members
of the AMPK family of protein kinases. They are involved in a broad
spectrum of physiological and cellular events, and sometimes their
biological roles overlap. NUAK isoform dysregulation is associated
with numerous pathological disorders, including neurodegeneration,
metastatic cancer, and diabetes. Therefore, they are promising therapeutic
targets in metabolic diseases and cancers; consequently, various NUAK-targeted
inhibitors have been disclosed. The first part of this review comprises
a brief discussion of the homology, expression, structure, and characteristics
of NUAK isoforms. The second part focuses on NUAK isoforms’
involvement in crucial biological operations, including mechanistic
findings, highlighting how their abnormal functioning contributes
to disease progression and quality of life. The third part summarizes
the key findings and applications of targeting NUAK isoforms for treating
multiple cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. The final part systematically
presents a critical review and analysis of the literature on NUAK
isoform inhibitions through small molecules.