Cancer gene validation using ribozymes and macroarray.

Transcription factor AP-2 seems to play an important role in the malignancy of melanoma. In this study, we constructed ribozyme expression vectors to suppress the expression of AP-2 (AP-2-ribozymes) and then examined gene expression in human A375P melanoma cells that stably expressed ribozymes targeted to the AP-2 transcript. A comparison of the gene-expression profiles of A375P cells that expressed AP-2-ribozymes and those transfected with the empty vector revealed changes in levels of expression of several genes. Here we described that the combination of gene suppression by ribozymes and the analysis of gene expression using a macro-array provides a good approach for elucidating signal transduction pathways. These results provide further insight into the role of AP-2 in human melanoma cells.