Genomic organization of the putative human homeobox proto-oncogene HOX-11 (TCL-3) and its endogenous expression in T cells.
The HOX-11 (TCL-3) gene, which is abnormally expressed in the leukemic cells of some patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a new member of the homeobox gene family. It is structurally altered by the t(10;14) chromosomal translocation, resulting in head-to-tail juxtaposition of HOX-11 with the T-cell receptor delta-chain gene. In order to understand the normal functions of HOX-11 and its role in T-cell leukemia, we have determined the exon-intron structure of the HOX-11 gene. By using oligonucleotide primers flanking an intron of the HOX-11 gene, we have developed a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the expression of HOX-11. We detected HOX-11 expression in multiple cell lineages including normal T cells and two T-cell lines in which the HOX-11 gene appeared to be unaltered in structure. Our results suggest that deregulation of the endogenous expression of HOX-11 in normal T cells represents an essential step towards the formation of this type of T-cell leukemia.
Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa, Sudbury, Canada.
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D015698:Genomic Library; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C071250:TLX1 protein, human