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Pigmentation PAX‐ways: the role of Pax3 in melanogenesis, melanocyte stem cell maintenance, and disease
Author(s) -
Kubic Jennifer D.,
Young Kacey P.,
Plummer Rebecca S.,
Ludvik Anton E.,
Lang Deborah
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2008.00514.x
Subject(s) - melanocyte , biology , transcription factor , stem cell , pax3 , microbiology and biotechnology , microphthalmia associated transcription factor , cancer research , gene , genetics , melanoma
Summary Transcription factors initiate programs of gene expression and are catalysts in downstream molecular cascades that modulate a variety of cellular processes. Pax3 is a transcription factor that is important in the melanocyte and influences melanocytic proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, migration, lineage specificity and differentiation. In this review, we focus on Pax3 and the molecular pathways that Pax3 is a part of during melanogenesis and in the melanocyte stem cell. These roles of Pax3 are emphasized during the development of diseases and syndromes resulting from either too much or too little Pax3 function. Due to its key task in melanocyte stem cells and tumors, the Pax3 pathway may provide an ideal target for either stem cell or cancer therapies.