G Antigen 2A (GAGE2A)

Human melanoma cells express several distinct antigens that are recognized by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs). One class of these antigens is encoded by genes, such as MAGE1 (MAGEA1), MAGE3 (MAGEA3), and BAGE, that are expressed in a large fraction of tumors of various histologic types but are silent in normal adult tissues, except for testis. Van den Eynde et al. (1995) identified an antigen, named MZ2-F, that is present on melanoma MZ2-MEL cells and is recognized by autologous CTLs. They isolated cDNAs encoding the MZ2-F antigen and named the corresponding gene GAGE1.GAGE2A gene is contained within a 9.5-kb GAGE repeat. The GAGE2A gene contains 5 exons spanning about 6.3 kb and has a LINE insertion. GAGE2A gene to a GAGE gene cluster on chromosome Xp11.23.