Elsevier

Genomics

Volume 55, Issue 2, 15 January 1999, Pages 176-184
Genomics

Regular Article
A New Family of Mouse Genes Homologous to the HumanMAGEGenes

https://doi.org/10.1006/geno.1998.5638Get rights and content

Abstract

The humanMAGEgenes are expressed in a wide variety of tumors but not in normal cells, with the exception of the male germ cells, placenta, and, possibly, cells of the developing embryo. These genes encode tumor-specific antigens recognized by cytolytic T lymphocytes. TheMAGEgenes are located on the X chromosome, in three clusters denotedMAGE-A, B,andC,mapping at q28, p21.3, and q26, respectively. The function of these genes remains unknown. Because mice offer many advantages for the study of genes that may be involved in embryonic development, we looked for the murine equivalents of the 12 humanMAGE-Agenes. Using aMAGE-Aprobe, we isolated 8 new murine genes that are homologous to theMAGEgenes. On average, the open reading frames (ORFs) of these 8 closely related genes display a slightly higher degree of nucleotide identity with theMAGE-AORFs than with theMAGE-BorMAGE-CORFs. Furthermore, likeMAGE-Agenes, they encode acidic proteins, whereas theMAGE-Bgenes encode basic proteins. Accordingly, these 8 murine genes were namedMage-a1to8(approved symbolsMagea1to8).Mage-agenes were mapped in two different loci on the mouse X chromosome.Mage-a4andMage-a7are located in a region that is syntenic to either Xp21 or Xq28. The 6 other genes are arranged in a cluster located in a region syntenic to Xp22. Like their human counterparts,Mage-agenes were found to be transcribed in adult testis, but not in other tissues. Expression of someMage-agenes was also detected in tumor cell lines. TwoMage-agenes were found to be expressed in blastocysts.

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