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A new gene named maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase, Melk, has been recently identified (Heyer et al. 1997 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 47:148–156). As a basis for further study of the function of the gene, we have examined the expression of Melk across a wide range of embryonic stages, from the ovulated egg and 2-cell embryo through the gastrulation and early organogenesis stages, by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Melk is expressed in a spatially and temporally specific pattern during mammalian embryogenesis. The strongest expression was detected during maturation of oocytes and preimplantation development. Given its expression pattern, Melk may play an important role during preimplantation embryonic development. Dev Dyn 1999;215:344–351. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Heyer et al. (1999) studied this question.