Mice lacking PDPK1 die during early embryonic development, indicating that this enzyme is critical for transmitting the growth-promoting signals necessary for normal mammalian development.

Mice that are deficient in PDPK1 have a ≈40% decrease in body mass, mild glucose intolerance, and are resistant to cancer brought about by hyperactivation of the PI3K pathway (PTEN+/-).

[7] [8] Plant PDK1 plays an important role in regulating PIN-mediated auxin transport, and is thus involved in various developmental processes, such as embryonic development, lateral root formation, vasculature patterning, apical hook formation, gravitropism and phototropism.

Phosphatidylinositols are only required for the activation at the membrane of some substrates including AKT.

Several PDPK1 substrates including S6K and Protein kinase C, require the binding at this docking site.