NCBI Summary:
This gene is a member of the MAGEA gene family. The members of this family encode proteins with 50 to 80% sequence identity to each other. The promoters and first exons of the MAGEA genes show considerable variability, suggesting that the existence of this gene family enables the same function to be expressed under different transcriptional controls. The MAGEA genes are clustered at chromosomal location Xq28. They have been implicated in some hereditary disorders, such as dyskeratosis congenita.
General function
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Cellular localization
Plasma membrane
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Ovarian function
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Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
Primordial Germ Cell
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MAGE-A1, GAGE and NY-ESO-1 cancer/testis antigen expression during human gonadal development. Gjerstorff MF et al. BACKGROUND Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are expressed in several cancers and during normal adult male germ cell differentiation. Little is known about their role in fetal development of human germ cells. METHODS We examined expression of the CTAs MAGE-A1, GAGE and NY-ESO-1 in fetal gonads by single and double immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS We found that GAGE was expressed in the primordial germ cells of the gonadal primordium, whereas MAGE-A1 and NY-ESO-1 were first detected in germ cells of both testis and ovary after sexual differentiation was initiated. The number of positive germ cells and the staining intensity of all three CTAs peaked during the second trimester and gradually decreased towards birth in both male and female germ cells. In oocytes, MAGE-A1 expression terminated around birth, whereas NY-ESO-1 expression persisted through the neonatal stage and GAGE expression was maintained until adulthood. The population of GAGE-expressing male and female germ cells partially overlapped the population of OCT4-positive cells, whereas MAGE-A1 and NY-ESO-1 were clearly expressed only by OCT4-negative cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that MAGE-A1 and NY-ESO-1 are associated with highly proliferating germ cells, whereas GAGE proteins have a more general function in germ cells unrelated to any specific developmental stage. The recognition of differential cellular expression of GAGE, MAGE-A1, NY-ESO-1 and OCT4 may help define biologically distinct germ cell subpopulations.