Differential expression of smooth muscle alpha-like actin between benign and malignant human pigment tissues.
When examining proteins in human pigment tissues, we found that a third actin-like protein, in addition to beta- and gamma-actin was more frequent and in a larger amount in benign tissues such as blue nevus and nevus pigmentosus, than in malignant melanoma. This third actin-like protein was immunologically stained with monoclonal antibodies reacting with several actin species and specific for smooth muscle alpha-actin. We propose that this third actin-like protein is probably smooth muscle alpha-actin and that different expressions of this third actin may possibly serve as a sensitive biochemical marker for the diagnosis of human malignant melanoma.
Taniguchi
S
S
Department of Experimental Cell Research, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Inoue
M
M
Nakayama
J
J
Sadano
H
H
Hori
Y
Y
Baba
T
T
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000032:analysis*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000032:analysis*
D000199:Actins; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal