{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"MART-1/Melan-A is a putative 18 kDa transmembrane protein consisting of 118 amino acids. It has a single transmembrane domain. MART-1/ Melan-A is a protein antigen found on melanocytes. Antibodies against this antigen are used to recognize cells of melanocytic differentiation, useful for the diagnosis of Melanoma. The same name is used to refer to the gene which codes for this antigen. The MART-1/Melan-A antigen is specific for the melanocyte lineage found in normal skin, retina, and melanocytes, but not in other normal tissues. It is thus useful as a marker for Melanocytic Tumors, with the caveat that it is normally found in benign nevi as well. This antibody is very useful in establishing the diagnosis of Metastatic Melanomas."}]}]}