title: Sequence analysis of the MAGE gene family encoding human tumor-rejection antigens.
abstract: The MAGE multigene family, which includes the MAGE-1 and -3 genes that encode tumor-rejection antigens on HLA-A1 recognized by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL), is preferentially expressed at the mRNA level on human malignant cells, but not on normal cells. However, little is known about the MAGE-4, -41 and -6 genes. In this study, we have amplified 1040 bp (MAGE-1), 1061 bp (MAGE-3 and -6) and 1064 bp (MAGE-4 and -41) cDNA fragments, including the entire coding sequences (927-951 bp), using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method followed by nucleotide (nt) sequencing. One member had greater than 80 or 66% homology with the other members at the nt or deduced amino acid (aa) levels, respectively. Higher homology was found between MAGE-3 and -6 (98% at the nt level) and also between MAGE-4 and -41 (98%). The results of this investigation demonstrated high homology, as well as the clear differences between the members of the MAGE family at the coding sequence level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shichijo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; C095204:MAGEA4 protein, human; C095203:MAGEA6 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins