Automated description from the Alliance of Genome Resources (Release 7.0.0)
Enables protein serine/threonine kinase activity. Involved in neural precursor cell proliferation and positive regulation of apoptotic process. Acts upstream of or within intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in response to oxidative stress. Located in cytoplasm. Is expressed in several structures, including alimentary system; central nervous system; early conceptus; genitourinary system; and sensory organ. Orthologous to human MELK (maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase).