title: Gene expression regulation by agonist-independent constitutive signaling of melanocortin-1 receptor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r), a key signaling receptor for melanogenesis, has been reported to mediate migration of B16F10 melanoma cells. Interestingly, this activity appears to be a part of the constitutive signaling of Mc1r.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out small interfering RNA-mediated knock-down of Mc1r on murine melanoma B16F10 cells and performed microarray analysis to characterize changes in the gene expression profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We isolated 22 and four genes whose expression decreased and increased, respectively, by 2.5-fold or higher as the result of Mc1r knock-down. Several down-regulated genes have been proposed to be involved in cell migration. Among these genes are several members of the chemokine gene family.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We provide a gene set for further functional analyses of Mc1r. The Mc1r target genes we present may be particularly relevant for understanding the ligand-independent activity of Mc1r. Further examination of the mode of action may lead to novel strategies in regulating the migration and metastasis of melanoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science and Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ikjoo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science and Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaesang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Chemokines; Melanoma; Migration; Receptor, melanocortin, type 1