Melan-A (MLANA) - Marker for normal melanocytes and melanoma

The MLANA gene encodes the melan-A protein, which has a single transmembrane region. Melan-A is specifically expressed on the surface of cells from the melanocytic lineage, including both normal melanocytes and melanoma cells. Clinically, it is a useful and specific marker for malignant melanoma since this form of cancer is derived from melanocytes, which commonly retain the expression of melan-A after becoming cancerous.