Saturday, December 28, 2013

Dupplicity of MITF( microphthalmia-associated transcription factor)

One of the gene that tells us that we are still at the dawn of big genetic discoveries is MITF.
The NCBI tells us "This gene encodes a transcription factor that contains both basic helix-loop-helix and leucine zipper structural features. It regulates the differentiation and development of melanocytes retinal pigment epithelium and is also responsible for pigment cell-specific transcription of the melanogenesis enzyme genes."
But this is just the beginning  of a complex set of interaction that lead to cancers
from Melanoma (TRPM1)to Hodgkin (IKKa, CHUK) disease to various lung cancers (DYNLL1)
Wikipedia tells us this is an example of a gene that can induce malformation
and a "wild gene"
Careful now don't jump in with inhibition
because in activating TRPM1, it blocks the aggressiveness of Melanoma by decreasing its Metastatic potential.  So don't get overexcited here.
But by playing the RAB27A card, MITF could impact on removal the inhibition that drives NF-kB expansion, fueling Hodgkin disease.
Through ZPYVE16/TOM1, MITF could impact lysosomal degradation of Growth factors...
Through its Catenin Connection (CHUK-CTNNB1), it can affect the overall shape of the cell affecting epidermal differentiation.
MITF interacts also with UBE2I, another known target gene
So be careful approaching this gene as a target, patient hair will go "silver gray" on you (MyO5A)...

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