Melk Gene Summary [Rat]
Predicted to enable calcium ion binding activity; non-membrane spanning protein tyrosine kinase activity; and protein serine/threonine kinase activity. Predicted to be involved in several processes, including neural precursor cell proliferation; positive regulation of apoptotic process; and protein autophosphorylation. Predicted to act upstream of or within intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in response to oxidative stress. Predicted to be located in cell cortex and plasma membrane. Predicted to be active in cytoplasm. Orthologous to human MELK (maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Jul 2025]
Details
| Type | Protein Coding |
| Official Symbol | Melk |
| Official Name | maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase [Source:RGD Symbol;Acc:1308974] |
| Ensembl ID | ENSRNOG00000013598 |
| Bio databases IDs | |
| Aliases | maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase |
| Synonyms | HPK38, KIAA0175, Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase, mKIAA0175, MPK38, Protein kinase PK38 |
| Species | Rat, Rattus norvegicus |
| Orthologies |
Protein Domains
A protein domain is a distinct structural or functional region within a protein that can evolve, function, and exist independently of the rest of the protein chain. These domains in rat Melk often fold into stable, three-dimensional structures and are associated with specific biological functions, such as binding to DNA, other proteins, or small molecules.
- UBA domain-like superfamily
- protein serine/threonine kinase
- Protein kinase (unclassified specificity)
- protein kinase
- regulatory domain
- Protein tyrosine and serine/threonine kinase
- calcium ion binding
- non-membrane spanning protein tyrosine kinase
- protein binding
- Protein kinase domain
- kinase
- Serine/Threonine protein kinases, catalytic domain
- kinase domain
- Protein Kinases, catalytic domain
- AMPKA_C_like
- Kinase associated domain 1
- Tyrosine kinase, catalytic domain
Top Findings
The most significant associations for this gene, including commonly observed domains, pathway involvement, and functional highlights based on current data.
disease
- neoplasia
- cancer
- lymphomagenesis
- liver cancer
- epithelial cancer
- rheumatoid arthritis
- metastasis
- colorectal cancer
- breast cancer
- hepatocellular carcinoma
role in cell
- proliferation
- binding in
- signaling in
- expression in
- migration
- production in
- phosphorylation in
- growth
- cell viability
- apoptosis
Subcellular Expression
Locations within the cell where the protein is known or predicted to be active, providing insight into its function and cellular context.
- Cytoplasm
- cell cortex
- Plasma Membrane
Gene Ontology Annotations
Describes the biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions associated with the rat Melk gene, providing context for its role in the cell.
Biological Process
Functions and activities the gene product is involved in
- cell proliferation
- G2/M transition of mitotic cell cycle
- hemopoiesis
- neural precursor cell proliferation
- positive regulation of apoptotic process
- apoptotic process
- protein autophosphorylation
- induction of apoptosis by oxidative stress
- protein phosphorylation
Cellular Component
Where in the cell the gene product is active
- cytoplasm
- cell cortex
- membrane
- plasma membrane
Molecular Function
What the gene product does at the molecular level
- ATP binding
- protein binding
- non-membrane spanning protein tyrosine kinase activity
- calcium ion binding
- lipid binding
- protein serine/threonine kinase activity