title: Fifteen-year quest for microphthalmia-associated transcription factor target genes.
abstract: Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was initially shown to play a key role in melanocyte differentiation through the direct transcriptional control of TYROSINASE, TYRP1 and DCT genes, encoding the three enzymes involved in melanin synthesis or melanogenesis. Sixteen years after the first description of MITF, more than 40 direct MITF target genes have been described. They play a key role in melanocyte, osteoclast and mast cell specific functions. Furthermore, several MITF target genes, e.g. BCL2, CDK2, CDKN1A, CDKN2A, MET and HIF1A, link MITF to general cellular processes such as growth or survival. In this review, we provide an overview of the MITF-regulated genes. We pay special attention to the MITF target genes in melanocytes and raise questions about target specificity.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U895, Equipe 1, Biologie et Pathologies des cellules mélanocytaires, NICE Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheli
authors.forename: Mickael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohanna
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballotti
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertolotto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020460:Melanosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D008543:Melanins; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors