Structure, expression and chromosome mapping of MLZE, a novel gene which is preferentially expressed in metastatic melanoma cells.
We isolated a novel gene, termed MLZE, from a B16-BL6 cDNA library after subtraction of B16-F10 mRNA. Expression levels of mouse MLZE (mMLZE) increased in accordance with metastatic ability of B16 melanoma sublines. Human homolog of mMlze (hMlze) contained one leucine zipper structure and two potential nuclear localizing signals. Northern blot analysis of multiple human tissues showed that hMLZE was expressed primarily in trachea and spleen. We mapped the hMLZE gene (by fluorescence in situ hybridization) to 8q24.1 - 2, which contains the c-myc gene and is often amplified in malignant melanoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of hMlze-positive cases was significantly larger in Clark levels III, IV and V melanomas (6 / 11 = 55%) than in Clark levels I and II melanomas (2 / 15 = 13%). In two cases of hMlze-positive melanomas, the strength of hMlze staining increased substantially in the deep component of the tumor. Considering that melanomas above Clark level II are more metastatic than those below Clark level III, these findings suggested that MLZE is one of the genes whose expression is upregulated during the course of acquisition of metastatic potential in melanoma cells.
Department of Molecular Genetics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
K
K
Watabe
A
A
Ito
H
H
Asada
Y
Y
Endo
T
T
Kobayashi
K
K
Nakamoto
S
S
Itami
S
S
Takao
Y
Y
Shinomura
T
T
Aikou
K
K
Yoshikawa
Y
Y
Matsuzawa
Y
Y
Kitamura
H
H
Nojima
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000094524:Gasdermins
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C425469:GSDMC protein, human; D000094524:Gasdermins