MELK

MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) is a Protein Coding gene. Diseases associated with MELK include Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma. Among its related pathways are Neuroscience. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations related to this gene include calcium ion binding and protein kinase activity. An important paralog of this gene is PRKAA2.

maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase

Serine/threonine-protein kinase involved in various processes such as cell cycle regulation, self-renewal of stem cells, apoptosis and splicing regulation. Has a broad substrate specificity; phosphorylates BCL2L14, CDC25B, MAP3K5/ASK1 and ZNF622. Acts as an activator of apoptosis by phosphorylating and activating MAP3K5/ASK1. Acts as a regulator of cell cycle, notably by mediating phosphorylation of CDC25B, promoting localization of CDC25B to the centrosome and the spindle poles during mitosis. Plays a key role in cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. Required for proliferation of embryonic and postnatal multipotent neural progenitors. Phosphorylates and inhibits BCL2L14, possibly leading to affect mammary carcinogenesis by mediating inhibition of the pro-apoptotic function of BCL2L14. Also involved in the inhibition of spliceosome assembly during mitosis by phosphorylating ZNF622, thereby contributing to its redirection to the nucleus. May also play a role in primitive hematopoiesis.

Apoptotic process Source: UniProtKB
Cell population proliferation Source: UniProtKB
G2/M transition of mitotic cell cycle Source: UniProtKB
Hemopoiesis Source: UniProtKB
Intracellular signal transduction Source: GO_Central
Intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in response to oxidative stress Source: Ensembl
Neural precursor cell proliferation Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of apoptotic process Source: UniProtKB
Protein autophosphorylation Source: UniProtKB
Protein phosphorylation Source: GO_Central

Cell membrane

Defects in MELK are associated with some cancers, such as brain or breast cancers. Expression is dramatically increased in aggressive undifferentiated tumors, correlating with poor patient outcome in breast and brain cancers, suggesting a role in tumor-initiating cells and proliferation via its function in cell proliferation regulation.

Autophosphorylated: autophosphorylation of the T-loop at Thr-167 and Ser-171 is required for activation. Thr-478 phosphorylation during mitosis promotes interaction with PPP1R8 (Probable).