Membrane-associated transporter protein (MATP), also known as solute carrier family 45 member 2 (SLC45A2) or melanoma antigen AIM1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC45A2gene.[1][2][3]
In human, the SLC45A2 gene is located on the short (p) arm of chromosome 5 at position 13.2.
SLC45A2 is a transporter protein that mediates melanin synthesis. It may regulate the pH of the melanosome, affecting tyrosinase activity.[4] SLC45A2 is also a melanocyte differentiation antigen that is expressed in a high percentage of melanoma cell lines.[5] A similar sequence gene in medaka fish, 'B,' encodes a transporter that mediates melanin synthesis. Mutations in this gene are a cause of oculocutaneous albinism type 4. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms.[3] Protein expression is localized to the melanosome, and analysis of the by knockdown of RNA expression leads to altered melanosome pH potentially altering tyrosinase function by affecting copper binding.[6]
SLC45A2 has been found to play a role in pigmentation in several species. In humans, it has been identified as a factor in the light skin of Europeans and as an ancestry-informative marker for distinguishing Sri Lankan from European ancestry.[9] Mutations in the gene have also been identified as the cause of human Type IV oculocutaneous albinism.[10] SLC45A2 is the so-called cream gene responsible in horses for buckskin, palomino and cremello coloration, while a mutation in this gene underlies the white tiger variant.[11] In dogs a mutation to this gene causes white fur, pink skin, and blue eyes.[12]
SLC45A2 was identified as a melanoma tumor-associated antigen with high tumor specificity and reduced potential for autoimmune toxicity, and is currently in clinical development as a target for T-cell based immunotherapy.[13]
See also
Evolution and divergence of light skin mutations and alleles. The SLC45A2 contributes to pigmentation in Europeans.Solute carrier family
References
↑"Distinctive distribution of AIM1 polymorphism among major human populations with different skin color". Journal of Human Genetics47 (2): 92–4. Mar 2002. doi:10.1007/s100380200007. PMID11916009.
↑"Identification of Aim-1 as the underwhite mouse mutant and its transcriptional regulation by MITF". The Journal of Biological Chemistry277 (1): 402–6. January 2002. doi:10.1074/jbc.M110229200. PMID11700328.
↑"Population differences of two coding SNPs in pigmentation-related genes SLC24A5 and SLC45A2". International Journal of Legal Medicine121 (1): 36–9. January 2007. doi:10.1007/s00414-006-0112-z. PMID16847698.
↑"A Missense Mutation in SLC45A2 Is Associated with Albinism in Several Small Long Haired Dog Breeds". The Journal of Heredity106 (3): 285–8. May–June 2015. doi:10.1093/jhered/esv008. PMID25790827.
"Mutations in the gene encoding B, a novel transporter protein, reduce melanin content in medaka". Nature Genetics28 (4): 381–5. August 2001. doi:10.1038/ng584. PMID11479596.
"Mutations in the MATP gene in five German patients affected by oculocutaneous albinism type 4". Human Mutation23 (2): 106–10. February 2004. doi:10.1002/humu.10311. PMID14722913.
"MATP polymorphisms in Germans and Japanese: the L374F mutation as a population marker for Caucasoids". International Journal of Legal Medicine118 (6): 364–6. December 2004. doi:10.1007/s00414-004-0490-z. PMID15455243.
"A Korean case of oculocutaneous albinism type IV caused by a D157N mutation in the MATP gene". The British Journal of Dermatology152 (1): 174–5. January 2005. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06403.x. PMID15656822.
"Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the MATP gene are associated with normal human pigmentation variation". Human Mutation25 (3): 278–84. March 2005. doi:10.1002/humu.20143. PMID15714523.
"Population differences of two coding SNPs in pigmentation-related genes SLC24A5 and SLC45A2". International Journal of Legal Medicine121 (1): 36–9. January 2007. doi:10.1007/s00414-006-0112-z. PMID16847698.
"Is autosomal recessive deafness associated with oculocutaneous albinism a "coincidence syndrome"?". Journal of Human Genetics51 (8): 716–20. 2006. doi:10.1007/s10038-006-0003-7. PMID16868655.
"Proteomic and bioinformatic characterization of the biogenesis and function of melanosomes". Journal of Proteome Research5 (11): 3135–44. November 2006. doi:10.1021/pr060363j. PMID17081065.
"Polymorphisms in the genes for oculocutaneous albinism type 1 and type 4 in the German population". Pigment Cell Research20 (3): 225–7. June 2007. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0749.2007.00377.x. PMID17516931.
"SLC45A2 variations in Indian oculocutaneous albinism patients". Molecular Vision13: 1406–11. August 2007. PMID17768386.