May play a role in cardiomyocyte proliferation through paracrine signaling and activation of the PI3-kinase signaling cascade. Expressed in heart, brain, liver, spleen, kidney, lung, thymus, testis, ovary and muscle. As early as 12.5 dpc to 16.5 dpc, intense expression is restricted to mesenchymal condensations, which form the different cartilage elements of the developing skeleton. At 12.5 dpc, strongly expressed in all vertebrae, heart ventricle, dental follicle, interdigital tissue, tongue and cartilages of the basioccipital bone, maxilla, mandible and the region of the future nasal septum. At 14.5 and 16.5 dpc, expressed in ribs, long bones, interdigital tissue, metatarsals, dental follicle, cartilages of the mandible and nasal septum as well as vertebrae with stronger expression in posterior vertebrae. At 16.5 dpc, also expressed in paw bones and, in vertebrae, the expression is limited to mainly columnar, proliferating chondrocytes. At 4 days postnatal, intense expression in nasal cartilages, hair, dental and vibrissa follicles. Belongs to the DIPK family.