LAGE-1, a new gene with tumor specificity.
Representational difference analysis was used to identify genes that are expressed in a human melanoma cell line and not in normal skin. A cDNA clone that appeared to be specific for tumors was obtained and the corresponding gene was sequenced. This new gene was named LAGE-I. Using a LAGE-I probe to screen a cDNA library from the same melanoma cell line, we identified a closely related gene, which proved to be identical to NY-ESO-I, a gene recently reported to code for an antigen recognized by autologous antibodies in an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Gene LAGE-I maps to Xq28. It comprises 3 exons. Alternative splicing produces 2 major transcripts encoding polypeptides of 210 and 180 residues, respectively. Expression of LAGE-I was observed in 25-50% of tumor samples of melanomas, non-small-cell lung carcinomas, bladder, prostate and head and neck cancers. The only normal tissue that expressed the gene was testis. As for MAGE-AI, expression of LAGE-I is induced by deoxy-azacytidine in lymphoblastoid cells, suggesting that tumoral expression is due to demethylation. The expression of LAGE-I is strongly correlated with that of NY-ESO-I. It is also clearly correlated with the expression of MAGE genes.
Lethé
B
B
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Brussels Branch, Université Catholique de Louvain. lethe@licr.ucl.ac.be
Lucas
S
S
Michaux
L
L
De Smet
C
C
Godelaine
D
D
Serrano
A
A
De Plaen
E
E
Boon
T
T
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009857:Oncogenes; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C104948:CTAG1B protein, human; C510162:CTAG2 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins