Premium
The SSX gene family: Characterization of 9 complete genes
Author(s) -
Güre Ali O.,
Wei Isaac J.,
Old Lloyd J.,
Chen YaoTseng
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.10634
Subject(s) - gene , pseudogene , biology , clone (java method) , gene family , microbiology and biotechnology , trichostatin a , antigen , genetics , histone , gene expression , histone deacetylase , genome
Human SSX genes comprise a gene family with 6 known members. SSX 1, 2 and 4 have been found to be involved in the t(X;18) translocation characteristically found in all synovial sarcomas. Four ( SSX 1, 2, 4 and 5) are known to be expressed in a subset of tumors and testis, and anti‐SSX antibodies have been found in sera from cancer patients. SSX antigens are thus typical cancer‐testis (CT) antigens. To identify additional SSX family members, we isolated and characterized human genomic clones homologous to a prototype SSX cDNA. We also searched public databases for sequences similar to SSX . This identified 3 additional SSX genes, SSX 7, 8, 9, and also completed the sequence of the formerly partially defined SSX 6 gene. In addition to these novel SSX genes, several SSX pseudogenes were identified. With the exception of 1 pseudogene, all SSX genomic SSX sequences map to chromosome X. Among normal tissues, SSX 7 mRNA was present only in testis, whereas SSX 6, 8 and 9 were not detected in any normal tissue. SSX 6 and 7 were expressed in 1 of 9 melanoma cell lines tested, whereas SSX 8 and 9 expression was not detected in any tumor tissue or cell lines tested. SSX 1, 2, 4 and 5 mRNA expression can be induced in cell lines by 5‐aza‐2‐deoxycytidine or Trichostatin A. These agents also induce SSX 6, but not SSX 3, 7, 8 or 9 in the tumor cell lines tested, indicating that mechanisms other than methylation or histone acetylation may be responsible for the repressed state of some SSX genes. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.