Microphthalmia Transcription Factor (MITF)

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Specificity & Comments

MITF (microphthalmia transcription factor) is a basic helix-loop-helix-leucine-zipper (bHLH-Zip) transcription factor that regulates the development and survival of melanocytes and retinal pigment epithelium, and also is involved in transcription of pigmentation enzyme genes such as tyrosinase TRP1 and TRP2. MITF has been shown to be phosphorylated by MAP kinase in response to c-kit activation, resulting in upregulation of MITF transcriptional activity. Mutations of the MITF gene are associated with the autosomal dominant hereditary deafness and pigmentation condition, Waardenburg Syndrome type 2A. Multiple isoforms of MITF exist, including MITF-A, MITF-B, MITF-C, MITF-H, and MITF-M, which differ in the amino-terminal domain and in their expression patterns. The MITF-M isoform is restricted to the melanocyte cell lineage. Anti-MITF, D5, recognizes a nuclear protein, which is expressed in the majority of primary and metastatic epithelioid malignant melanomas as well as in normal melanocytes, benign nevi and dysplastic nevi.