title: An ocular melanoma-associated antigen. Molecular characterization.
abstract: Monoclonal antibody (MAb) 8-1H defines a highly conserved ocular melanoma-associated antigen. Based on a potential binding site of MAb8-1, we identified, molecularly cloned, and sequenced the gene, encoding this melanoma-associated antigen from a uveal melanoma copy DNA library. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the melanoma-associated antigen revealed characteristics of a membrane-bound protein of 238 amino acids (approximately 25 kd) with four transmembrane domains. The sequence of the ocular melanoma-associated antigen is identical to the sequence of a recently reported cutaneous melanoma-associated antigen, substantiating our previous studies regarding common antigens between ocular and cutaneous melanoma. In addition, the melanoma-associated antigen shares sequence homology with a number of transmembrane proteins that appear to be involved in growth regulation. The implication of the biological function of this ocular melanoma-associated antigen, its relevance to the malignant phenotype, and clinical applications of the molecular characterization of this melanoma-associated antigen are described.
authors.affiliation: Retina Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5598.
authors.forename: M X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Earley
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Donoso
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger