MAGEA4 Antibody – Rabbit Polyclonal

This gene is a member of the MAGEA gene family. The members of this family encode proteins with 50 to 80% sequence identity to each other. The promoters and first exons of the MAGEA genes show considerable variability, suggesting that the existence of this gene family enables the same function to be expressed under different transcriptional controls. The MAGEA genes are clustered at chromosomal location Xq28. They have been implicated in some hereditary disorders, such as dyskeratosis congenita. At least four variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

MAGE-A4: a member of the MAGE (melanoma-associated antigen) family of Cancer-Testis Antigens (CTAs). May play a role in embryonal development and tumor transformation or aspects of tumor progression. CTAs were once thought to be silenced in most normal adult tissues, with limited expression in fetal, placental, testis, and ovary cells. These proteins are now known to be aberrantly expressed in various cancers and many are capable of eliciting humoral and cellular immune responses. The MAGE family of proteins, encompassing 12 highly homologous genes clustered at Xq26-28, are tumor-specific antigens that can be recognized by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes. MAGE proteins are characterized by the presence of a conserved domain (MHD, MAGE Homology Domain). MAGE-A4 expression is high in ovarian serous carcinoma, various squamous carcinomas, testicular germ cell tumors, oesophageal mucosal melanoma, and triple-negative breast cancers. Spontaneous humoral and cellular immune responses against MAGE-A4 have been detected in cancer patients. MAGE family proteins bind to and activate RING E3 ubiquitin ligases.

Protein type: Cancer Testis Antigen (CTA)

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: Xq28

Molecular Function: protein binding