^
    Contact us  to learn more about
    our Premium Content:  News alerts, weekly reports and conference planners
    GENE:

    MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase)

    i
    Other names: MELK, Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase, Tyrosine-Protein Kinase MELK, Protein Kinase PK38, Protein Kinase Eg3, PEg3 Kinase, HPK38
    22d
    Telomere-based Risk Model for Prognosis Prediction in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. (PubMed, Curr Med Chem)
    This study identified six telomere-related genes with high expression and strong diagnostic value in ccRCC, highlighting their association with immune infiltration and potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
    Journal
    |
    MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • BUB1 (BUB1 Mitotic Checkpoint Serine/Threonine Kinase) • CEP55 (Centrosomal Protein 55)
    26d
    Discovery of the MELK-Nucleostemin Axis in Glioblastoma: Implications for p53 Regulation and Tumor Progression. (PubMed, J Microbiol Biotechnol)
    These findings define a previously unrecognized MELK-NS-p53 signaling axis that links kinase activity to the regulation of the cell cycle. Our fundings provide mechanistic insights into glioblastoma pathogenesis and suggest that targeting the MELK-NS pathway may be a potential therapeutic strategy for high-grade gliomas.
    Journal
    |
    MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • AMPK (Protein Kinase AMP-Activated Catalytic Subunit Alpha 1)
    26d
    Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase (MELK) in Cancer: Biological Functions, Therapeutic Potential, and Controversies. (PubMed, Biology (Basel))
    We also discuss the therapeutic potential, limitations, and controversy of MELK inhibitors, and implications in cancer diagnosis and treatment. MELK may not be a universal driver oncogene; nonetheless, it is consistently linked to aggressive disease, underscoring its potential as a prognostic biomarker and a candidate for therapeutic co-targeting in combination treatments.
    Review • Journal
    |
    MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • AMPK (Protein Kinase AMP-Activated Catalytic Subunit Alpha 1)
    |
    OTS167
    27d
    Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of pyridine-quinazoline-oxadiazole hybrids as novel MELK inhibitors: in-silico analysis, anti-ovarian cancer activity, antioxidant potential, and assessment of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. (PubMed, Future Med Chem)
    Compound 14j exhibited strong anticancer effects, with an IC50 of 1.53 ± 0.04 µM, compared to doxorubicin, which had an IC50 of 14.38 ± 0.10 µM in a concentration-dependent manner...The synthesized Pyridine-based hybrids exhibit potent MELK inhibition, promising anticancer activity, and favorable in-silico drug profiles. 14j emerged as strong lead candidate for further anticancer drug development.
    Journal
    |
    MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase)
    |
    doxorubicin hydrochloride
    28d
    Exploratory research on therapeutic agents combined with early diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer. (PubMed, Front Pharmacol)
    This study systematically delineates a novel panel of early-detection biomarkers for CRC and identifies SB-225002 as a repurposed candidate therapeutic agent. The integrative strategy combining multi-cohort transcriptomic analysis, drug-repositioning platforms, molecular docking, and experimental validation offers a feasible framework for discovering clinically actionable biomarkers and small-molecule therapies for CRC.
    Journal
    |
    ALDH1A1 (Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family Member A1) • MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • CXCL3 (C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 3) • FABP4 (Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4) • MAD2L1 (Mitotic Arrest Deficient 2 Like 1) • MCM2 (Minichromosome maintenance complex component 2)
    |
    SB225002
    1m
    Integrated Network Analysis Reveals a Directly Regulatory Network of FOXM1 Associated With the Cell Cycle in Lung Adenocarcinoma. (PubMed, Bioinform Biol Insights)
    The predicted regulatory network of FOXM1 shows significant discrepancies with experimental validation data. Therefore, FOXM1's regulatory role in the cell cycle requires further experimental verification.
    Journal
    |
    TOP2A (DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha) • FOXM1 (Forkhead Box M1) • MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • CENPF (Centromere Protein F) • KIF20A (Kinesin Family Member 20A)
    1m
    Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with the Development of Cervical Cancer. (PubMed, Int J Mol Sci)
    The publicly available microarray datasets, including GSE39001, GSE9750, GSE7803, GSE6791, GSE63514, and GSE52903 in combination with bioinformatics database predictions, were used to identify differential expression genes, potential biomarkers, and therapeutic targets for cervical cancer; additionally, we undertook bioinformatic analysis to determine gene ontology and possible miRNA targets related to our DEGs...Interestingly, hub proteins KIF4A, NUSAP1, BUB1B, CEP55, DLGAP5, NCAPG, CDK1, MELK, KIF11, and KIF20A were found to be potentially regulated by several miRNAs, including miR-107, miR-124-3p, miR-147a, miR-16-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-34c-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-10b-5p, miR-23b-3p, miR-200b-3p, miR-138-5p, miR-203a-3p, miR-214-3p, and let-7b-5p. The relationship between these genes highlights their potential as candidate biomarkers for further research in treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis.
    Journal
    |
    TP53 (Tumor protein P53) • TOP2A (DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha) • RAD51 (RAD51 Homolog A) • MIR200B (MicroRNA 200b) • MIR34A (MicroRNA 34a-5p) • RAD51AP1 (RAD51 Associated Protein 1) • NUSAP1 (Nucleolar and Spindle Associated Protein 1) • ELF3 (E74 Like ETS Transcription Factor 3) • FOXM1 (Forkhead Box M1) • MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • CDK1 (Cyclin-dependent kinase 1) • KIF11 (Kinesin Family Member 11) • MIR126 (MicroRNA 126) • MIR16 (MicroRNA 16) • MIR23b (MicroRNA 23b) • NCAPG (Non-SMC Condensin I Complex Subunit G) • PLOD2 (procollagen-lysine,2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 2) • BUB1B (BUB1 Mitotic Checkpoint Serine/Threonine Kinase B) • CEP55 (Centrosomal Protein 55) • CXCL14 (C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 14) • E2F1 (E2F transcription factor 1) • KIF20A (Kinesin Family Member 20A) • KIF4A (Kinesin Family Member 4A) • MCM2 (Minichromosome maintenance complex component 2) • MCM5 (Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 5) • MIR10B (MicroRNA 10b) • MIR138 (MicroRNA 138) • MIR203A (MicroRNA 203a) • MIR214 (MicroRNA 214) • MIRLET7B (MicroRNA Let-7b) • RELA (RELA Proto-Oncogene) • RFC4 (Replication Factor C Subunit 4) • MIR124-3 (MicroRNA 124-3)
    2ms
    A novel prognostic model in ovarian cancer based on the Nectin family and Necl-like molecules related transcriptomics. (PubMed, SLAS Technol)
    We identified six prognosis-related genes and constructed a prognostic model, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical prognosis prediction and treatment for OC patients.
    Journal
    |
    CD8 (cluster of differentiation 8) • TOP2A (DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha) • CD4 (CD4 Molecule) • PLK1 (Polo Like Kinase 1) • TGFB1 (Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1) • MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • PTTG1 (PTTG1 Regulator Of Sister Chromatid Separation, Securin) • KIF20A (Kinesin Family Member 20A)
    3ms
    Computational identification of Moracin G and Isolonchocarpin as potent MELK inhibitors for anticancer drug discovery. (PubMed, Sci Rep)
    Principal component analysis, free energy landscapes, and MM-PBSA analyses highlighted stable conformations and appreciable binding free energies in MELK-ligand complexes, suggesting enhanced stability. These findings position Moracin G and Isolonchocarpin as promising scaffolds for developing selective MELK inhibitors, offering a pathway to disrupt cancer cell survival and improve therapeutic outcomes, although experimental validation is still required.
    Journal
    |
    MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase)
    3ms
    TOP2A, BUB1B, CENPF, KIF15 and MELK: Key senescence-related genes linked to prognosis and immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma senescence-related genes in LUAD. (PubMed, Int J Biol Macromol)
    In vitro experiments revealed that TOP2A knockdown inhibited the viability, migration, and invasion of LUAD cells. These findings may be provided a theoretical foundation for the discovery of biomarkers for prognostic prediction and diagnosis in LUAD.
    Journal
    |
    TOP2A (DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha) • MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • BUB1B (BUB1 Mitotic Checkpoint Serine/Threonine Kinase B) • KIF15 (Kinesin Family Member 15)
    3ms
    Melk facilitates pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in pulmonary hypertension via modulation of YAP/TAZ signaling. (PubMed, Front Cell Dev Biol)
    The YAP inhibitor Verteporfin blunted MELK-driven PASMC proliferation and migration, underscoring the central role of YAP/TAZ signaling. Finally, in vivo pharmacological inhibition of MELK by OTS167 markedly reduced right ventricular systolic pressure, hypertrophy, and pulmonary vascular remodeling in Su/H mice, confirming the therapeutic relevance of MELK targeting in PAH. Collectively, these findings identify MELK as a novel regulator of PASMC pathobiology in PAH and suggest that it may represent a potential therapeutic target.
    Journal
    |
    CCND1 (Cyclin D1) • BIRC5 (Baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5) • MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase) • PCNA (Proliferating cell nuclear antigen) • AMPK (Protein Kinase AMP-Activated Catalytic Subunit Alpha 1) • CCN1 (Cellular Communication Network Factor 1) • CTGF (Connective tissue growth factor)
    |
    Visudyne (verteporfin) • OTS167
    3ms
    Taxonomic characterization and cytotoxic potential of Vietnamese Ganoderma ellipsoideum against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. (PubMed, PLoS One)
    In silico molecular docking demonstrated strong binding affinities between major triterpenoid compounds and key breast cancer-related proteins, including HPA, MELK, CK2α, and NUDT5. These findings not only establish Ganoderma ellipsoideum as a newly recorded species in Vietnam, but also suggest its promising potential as a source of anticancer agents.
    Journal
    |
    MELK (Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase)