Related Experiment Videos
Acute leukaemia in bcr/abl transgenic mice
N Heisterkamp1, G Jenster, J ten Hoeve
1Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, California 90027.
Nature
|March 15, 1990
Summary
The Philadelphia chromosome, a fusion of the abl oncogene and bcr gene, causes acute leukaemia in mice. This study provides evidence for a causal link between this genetic abnormality and human leukaemia development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Oncology
Background:
- The Philadelphia chromosome, a t(9;22) translocation, is implicated in human leukaemia.
- This translocation fuses the abl oncogene with the bcr gene, creating a bcr/abl fusion.
- Specific breakpoints in the bcr gene lead to different bcr/abl transcripts and proteins, such as p190.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal role of the Philadelphia chromosome in leukaemia development.
- To determine if the bcr/abl p190 fusion protein can induce leukaemia.
Main Methods:
- Generation of transgenic mice carrying a bcr/abl p190 DNA construct.
- Observation of the health and survival of the transgenic mouse progeny.
Main Results:
- Transgenic mice developed acute leukaemia (myeloid or lymphoid) within 10-58 days of birth.
- Progeny were either moribund or died from leukaemia.
Conclusions:
- The bcr/abl p190 fusion protein is oncogenic and can induce acute leukaemia.
- This study provides direct evidence for a causal relationship between the Philadelphia chromosome and human leukaemia.