Melanoma is the most common skin cancer and cases have increased dramatically over the past few years, making it an emerging health threat and increasing the need for novel treatments and knowledge regarding its progression. Gli-Similar (Glis) genes are transcription factors acting as key regulators of embryonic development, especially through a hairlike structure known as the primary cilium, and are also implicated in a plethora of pathologies (Lichti-Kaiser et al., 2012). By means of bioinformatics and thorough literature search, downstream targets of Glis were identified and grouped based on level of expression in precursor melanocytes, melanoblasts. Pathway analysis was performed and PCR primers were designed for RT-PCR and qPCR to measure level of expression over time in a variety of cell lines, including, melanoma and knockouts of Glis1-3 to judge impact on melanocyte development as well as effect on melanoma progression. This produced a set of 6 genes downstream of Glis2/3 that play a role in melanoma through regulating the tumour supressor gene p53, and that lend themselves well as new treatment targets while also demonstrating their role in melanocyte development especially through their effect on primary cilia. The link between Glis and melanoma could give both deeper insight into the disease and promote understanding of melanocyte development.
LICHTI-KAISER, K., ZERUTH, G., KANG, H. S., VASANTH, S. & JETTEN, A. M. 2012. Gli-similar proteins: their mechanisms of action, physiological functions, and roles in disease. Vitam Horm, 88, 141-71.