Protocadherin Gamma B7 (PCDHgB7)

PCDHGB7 is 1 of 22 tandemly arranged genes within the PCDHG gene cluster on chromosome 5q31. The 22 PCDHG genes function as 'variable' exons that are individually spliced to a downstream constant region to form distinct PCDHG transcripts. The variable PCDHG exons encode the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the protocadherin protein, and the common region encodes the intracellular domain .

Using PCR with degenerate primers to screen melanoma cell lines, Matsuyoshi et al. (1997) obtained a cDNA fragment encoding part of PCDHGB7, which they termed ME6. RT-PCR analysis detected expression of ME6 in 2 melanoma cell lines, a squamous cell carcinoma cell line, and normal fibroblasts and melanocytes