Melan-A (also designated MART-1) is a melanocyte differentiation antigen that is specific to melanomas, melanocyte cell lines and retina. Melan-A peptide is recognized by most HLA-A2-restricted tumor-specific tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with melanoma. Antimelanoma cytotoxic T lymphocytes can be generated with a Melan-A peptide, implicating Melan-A as a potential candidate for antigen-specific immunotherapy in melanoma patients. Involved in melanosome biogenesis by ensuring the stability of GPR143. Plays a vital role in the expression, stability, trafficking, and processing of melanocyte protein PMEL, which is critical to the formation of stage II melanosomes.