| Gene Symbol |
MCAM
|
| Entrez Gene |
4162
|
| Alt Symbol |
CD146, MUC18
|
| Species |
Human
|
| Gene Type |
protein-coding
|
| Description |
melanoma cell adhesion molecule
|
| Other Description |
Gicerin|S-endo 1 endothelial-associated antigen|cell surface glycoprotein MUC18|cell surface glycoprotein P1H12|melanoma adhesion molecule|melanoma-associated antigen A32|melanoma-associated antigen MUC18
|
| Swissprots |
Q6PHR3 Q59E86 Q6ZTR2 O95812 P43121
|
| Accessions |
CAA48332 CCF76943 EAW67477 EAW67478 P43121 AB209925 BAD93162 AF089868 AAD17799 AJ297452 CAB97348 AK126303 BAC86520 AK128335 BAG54661 AK291571 BAF84260 AK312430 BAG35339 AU076908 BC056418 AAH56418 EU832794 ACE87805 GQ129330 ACT64464 M28882 AAA20922 M29277 AAA20824 NM_006500 NP_006491
|
| Function |
Plays a role in cell adhesion, and in cohesion of the endothelial monolayer at intercellular junctions in vascular tissue. Its expression may allow melanoma cells to interact with cellular elements of the vascular system, thereby enhancing hematogeneous tumor spread. Could be an adhesion molecule active in neural crest cells during embryonic development. Acts as surface receptor that triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of FYN and PTK2/FAK1, and a transient increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11036077, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8292890}.
|
| Subcellular Location |
Membrane; Single-pass type I membrane protein.
|
| Tissue Specificity |
Detected in endothelial cells in vascular tissue throughout the body. May appear at the surface of neural crest cells during their embryonic migration. Appears to be limited to vascular smooth muscle in normal adult tissues. Associated with tumor progression and the development of metastasis in human malignant melanoma. Expressed most strongly on metastatic lesions and advanced primary tumors and is only rarely detected in benign melanocytic nevi and thin primary melanomas with a low probability of metastasis.
|