Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase (MELK): a Novel Regulator in Cell Cycle Control, Embryonic Development, and Cancer

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2013 Nov 5

PMID 24185907

Citations 47

Authors

Pengfei Jiang

Deli Zhang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) functions as a modulator of intracellular signaling and affects various cellular and biological processes, including cell cycle, cell proliferation, apoptosis, spliceosome assembly, gene expression, embryonic development, hematopoiesis, and oncogenesis. In these cellular processes, MELK functions by binding to numerous proteins. In general, the effects of multiple protein interactions with MELK are oncogenic in nature, and the overexpression of MELK in kinds of cancer provides some evidence that it may be involved in tumorigenic process. In this review, our current knowledge of MELK function and recent discoveries in MELK signaling pathway were discussed. The regulation of MELK in cancers and its potential as a therapeutic target were also described.

Citing Articles

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Ni Q, Miao Y, Li X, Yin Z, Huang H, Shi G Mol Biotechnol. 2024; .

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Targeting MELK improves PD-1 blockade efficiency in cervical cancer via enhancing antitumor immunity.

Wang D, Zou F, Li Y, Hu J, Gao L Mol Ther Oncol. 2024; 32(1):200759.

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TGFβ1-driven SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and myofibroblast emergence are fully dependent on the TGFβ1 pre-activation of MAPKs and controlled by maternal leucine zipper kinase.

Wang Z, Castro N, Bernstein A, Wolosin J Cell Signal. 2023; 113:110963.

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Coptisine Inhibits Influenza Virus Replication by Upregulating p21.

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