Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation gene 1 (MALT1) is found in extranodal low-grade B cell lymphomas. MALT1 encodes two Ig-like C2-type domains and fuses with an API2 gene, which is highly expressed in adult lymphoid tissue. The translocation of this MALT1 gene, which maps to human chromosome 18q21.32, and the apoptosis-inhibiting API2 gene results in an increased development of MALT lymphomas and apoptosis inhibition. Sites at which this API2-MALT1 (11;18)(q21;q21) translocation commonly occurs are within human lung and kidney tissue. MALT lymphoma expresses nuclear Bcl10, which mediates the oligomerization and activation of a MALT1 caspase-like domain. The MALT1-API2 fusion protein activates NF˚B and creates a signaling pathway, which is influenced by this Bcl10-MALT1 complex. MALT1 mRNA is found in pre-B cells, mature B cells and plasma cells.
