MLANA

Function

Involved in melanosome biogenesis by ensuring the stability of GPR143. Plays a vital role in the expression, stability, trafficking, and processing of melanocyte protein PMEL, which is critical to the formation of stage II melanosomes.

Post-translational modifications

Acylated.

Tissue Specificity

Expression is restricted to melanoma and melanocyte cell lines and retina.

Cellular localization

• Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
• Single-pass type III membrane protein
• Golgi apparatus
• Golgi apparatus
• trans-Golgi network membrane
• Melanosome
• Also found in small vesicles and tubules dispersed over the entire cytoplasm. A small fraction of the protein is inserted into the membrane in an inverted orientation. Inversion of membrane topology results in the relocalization of the protein from a predominant Golgi/post-Golgi area to the endoplasmic reticulum. Melanoma cells expressing the protein with an inverted membrane topology are more effectively recognized by specific cytolytic T-lymphocytes than those expressing the protein in its native membrane orientation.

Alternative names

MART1, MLANA, Melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells 1, MART-1, Antigen LB39-AA, Antigen SK29-AA, Protein Melan-A

Database links

swissprot:Q16655 omim:605513 entrezGene:2315

Other research areas

• Immuno-oncology