Anti-Microphthalmia Transcription Factor (MITF)(Clone: MITF/915)

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. This MAb 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. Protein function: Transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes with essential roles in cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. Binds to M-boxes (5'-TCATGTG-3') and symmetrical DNA sequences (E-boxes) (5'-CACGTG-3') found in the promoters of target genes, such as BCL2 and tyrosinase (TYR). Plays an important role in melanocyte development by regulating the expression of tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1). Plays a critical role in the differentiation of various cell types, such as neural crest-derived melanocytes, mast cells, osteoclasts and optic cup-derived retinal pigment epithelium. [The UniProt Consortium]