title: A melanocyte-specific complementary DNA clone whose expression is inducible by melanotropin and isobutylmethyl xanthine.
abstract: Two groups of cDNA clones were isolated by screening a lambda gt11 cDNA library of normal human melanocytes with antityrosinase antibodies: one group of 13 was related to the human tyrosinase gene. The properties of the other group of three cDNA clones was investigated by the use of a representative clone, Pmel 17-1. The cDNA hybridized to an mRNA species of approximately 2600 bases from human and murine melanocytes. The transcript of Pmel 17-1 (17-1 mRNA) was expressed preferentially in melanocytes and its abundance paralleled the melanin content. The expression of Pmel 17-1 mRNA increased after stimulation of human and murine melanoma cells with agents that increase the levels of melanization. Immunocompetition assays with monoclonal antibodies to gp75, a known pigmentation-associated antigen of melanocytes, suggested that Pmel 17-1 encodes a 75,000 Mr glycoprotein that is highly abundant in melanotic cells and shares some immunological homology with tyrosinase. The gene for Pmel 17-1 did not map at or near the c-albino locus in mice. The cDNA of Pmel 17-1 detected a single hybridizing restriction fragment in both human and murine DNA, indicating that the gene has been conserved between these two species and exists as a single gene in each.
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010858:Pigmentation; D013045:Species Specificity; D013806:Theophylline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008543:Melanins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D004247:DNA; D013806:Theophylline; D004156:Catechol Oxidase; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine