Abstract
The mouse maelstrom (MAEL) gene has been found to be expressed in male germ cells and to play a role in spermatogenesis. Here, we cloned the human MAEL gene by digital differential display and found that, among human tissues, MAEL is only expressed in the testis, but it is also expressed in various cancer cell lines. The transcription start site of the MAEL gene is 74-bp upstream of the start codon. The region from -216 to +150 is the basal promoter of the MAEL gene, and a CpG island (-295 to +148) is located in this region. Treatment with the demethylating agent 5'-Aza-2-Deoxycytidine significantly upregulated MAEL expression. These results suggest that MAEL is a novel cancer/testis-associated gene and is regulated by DNA methylation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Azacitidine / pharmacology
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Base Sequence
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Carrier Proteins / genetics*
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism
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Cloning, Molecular
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DNA Methylation / drug effects
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DNA Methylation / genetics*
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic* / drug effects
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Humans
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Male
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
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Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
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Organ Specificity / drug effects
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Organ Specificity / genetics
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Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
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Testicular Neoplasms / genetics
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Testicular Neoplasms / pathology
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Testis / drug effects
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Testis / metabolism*
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Testis / pathology
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Transcription Factors
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Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
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Up-Regulation / drug effects
Substances
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Carrier Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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MAEL protein, human
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Azacitidine