Melanoma Antigen Family B6 (MAGEB6)

MAGEB6 is a member of the MAGEB gene family. The members of this family have their entire coding sequences located in the last exon, and the encoded proteins show 50 to 68% sequence identity to each other. The promoters and first exons of the MAGEB genes show considerable variability, suggesting that the existence of this gene family enables the same function to be expressed under different transcriptional controls.

The deduced MAGEB6 protein contains 407 amino acids and shares 41 to 46% sequence homology with the 4 previously identified MAGEB proteins. RT-PCR analysis of human normal and tumor tissues demonstrated expression of MAGEB6 in testis and in 4 of 5 seminomas, 1 of 10 cutaneous melanomas, 1 of 10 esophageal carcinomas, and 1 of 16 nonsmall-cell lung carcinomas.