Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Tal1 oncoprotein

TAL1 (or SCL) oncogene functions as a transcription regulatory factor that is necessary for the early development of all hematopoietic lineages. Aberrant expression of Tall protein in T cells is the cause of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in children. We generated two hybridomas that secreted monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that reacted strongly with GST-TAL(1-210) but not with GST fusion protein in ELISA assay. These two MAbs, TWN3 and TWN60, recognized TALI oncoprotein expressed in transfected COS-1 cells by Western blotting. In addition, both MAbs were also effective in detecting TAL1 oncoprotein in leukemic cells by immunoprecipitation and immunocytochemistry. Therefore, they should be useful in the studies of Tall protein functions in both hematopoietic development and oncogenesis.