Unknown. Candidate gene encoding tumor antigens.
Members of the BAGE gene family encode antigens that are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and are also known as CT (cancer/testis) antigens. Generated by juxtacentromeric shuffling of the MLL3 gene, the ancestral BAGE gene was expanded by acrocentric exchanges and/or juxtacentromeric movements.Generally, BAGE proteins are silent in all normal tissues with the exception of testis. BAGE2 and BAGE 3 (B melanoma antigen 2 and 3, respectively), also known as Cancer/testis antigen 2.2 and 2.3 (respectively), are 109 amino acid secreted proteins that are expressed in 22% of melanomas, lung and bladder carcinomas, and are also expressed in normal testis tissue. Like the genes encoding MAGE proteins, BAGE genes are most likely silenced by DNA methylation and/or chromatin compaction in normal tissues other than testis.