MAGED1

Melanoma-associated antigen D1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MAGED1 gene.

Function

This gene is a member of the melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) family. Most of the genes of this family encode tumor specific antigens that are not expressed in normal adult tissues except testis. Although the protein encoded by this gene shares strong homology with members of the MAGE family, it is expressed in almost all normal adult tissues. This gene has been demonstrated to be involved in the p75 neurotrophin receptor mediated programmed cell death pathway. Three transcript variants encoding two different isoforms have been found for this gene.

MAGED was found to be deleted in a group of children with an intellectual disability disorder caused by a Xp11.22 deletion.

Maged1 plays a role in controlling the reward circuitry in the brain of mice that is responsible for addictive behaviors. More recently, it has been shown to play a role in drug addiction through an epigenetic mechanism involving the monoubiquitination of H2A, which represses gene expression via interaction with the deubiquitinase USP7.

Interactions

MAGED1 has been shown to interact with UNC5A, PJA1, XIAP, and USP7.