Short paper

BRAF^V600E mutations in malignant melanoma are associated with increased expressions of BAALC

David Schrama, Gunhild Keller, Roland Houben, Christian G Ziegler, Claudia S Vetter-Kauczok, Selma Ugurel and Jürgen C Becker

Department of Dermatology, Julius-Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany

Journal of Carcinogenesis 2008, 7:1doi:10.1186/1477-3163-7-1

Published:	16 July 2008

Abstract

Bachground

Activating BRAF mutations are present in approximately 50% of melanomas. Although different downstream target genes of the most common mutant V600E have been identified, the contribution of activating BRAF mutations to malignant transformation needs further clarification.

Methods

Microarray gene analysis was performed for human melanoma cell lines harboring BRAF^V600E mutations in comparison to cell lines without this mutation.

Results

This analysis revealed a more than two fold down-regulation of 43 and an increase of 39 gene products. BAALC (Brain and acute Leukaemia, cytoplasmatic) was most prominently regulated, since it was up-regulated in mutated cell lines by a mean of 11.45. Real time PCR analyses with RNA from melanoma cell lines (n = 30) confirmed the BRAF-activation dependent up-regulation of BAALC.

Conclusion

BAALC, which has been associated with cell dedifferentiation and migration, may function as a downstream effector of activating BRAF mutations during melanomagenesis.