THE MELANOMA ANTIGEN GENE (MAGE) FAMILY IS CLUSTERED IN THE CHROMOSOMAL BAND XQ28

The melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) family comprises 12 known genes, of w hich 6 are expressed in tumors. In the course of a systematic analysis of transcripts in Xq28, we have identified cDNAs related to different MAGE genes. Analysis of cell hybrids, ordered YACs, and cosmids showe d that all MAGE genes are located in Xq28 and are clustered in three m ain intervals within 3.5 Mb. The six genes expressed in tumors are con tained in the two intervals closest to the telomere and are highly hom ologous to each other. Analysis of different species suggests that hum an MAGE sequences are conserved in primates, but less well conserved i n other vertebrate species. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.