| First Author | Amae S | Year | 1998 |
| Journal | Biochem Biophys Res Commun | Volume | 247 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | 710-5 |
| PubMed ID | 9647758 | Mgi Jnum | J:48330 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1267180 | Doi | 10.1006/bbrc.1998.8838 |
| Citation | Amae S, et al. (1998) Identification of a novel isoform of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor that is enriched in retinal pigment epithelium. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 247(3):710-5 |
| abstractText | Mutations at the mouse locus encoding microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) affect the development of many cell types, including retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), melanocytes, mast cells, and osteoclasts. Here we have identified a novel Mitf isoform, Mitf-a, and its human homologue MITF-A by cDNA cloning. MITF-A consists of 520 amino acid residues and differs in the amino-terminus from authentic melanocyte-type MITF (MITF-M). MITF-A mRNA is widely expressed and represents a predominant MITF isoform in cultured RPE cells, whereas MITF-M mRNA is exclusively expressed in melanocytes and melanoma cells. In situ hybridization analysis suggested that Mitf-a mRNA is enriched in the prospective RPE of mouse embryo. Moreover, transient cotransfection assays suggested that MITF-A activated transcription of the tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 genes. MITF-A/Mitf-a therefore may play an important role in melanogenesis in RPE. |
