title: Quantitative analysis of Op18 phosphorylation in childhood acute leukemia.
abstract: Oncoprotein 18 (Op18) is a major cystolic phosphoprotein constituent of leukemia cells. There is cumulative evidence that suggests a role for Op18 in integrating signals from diverse pathways involved in cell growth. Op18 phosphorylation is induced with proliferation in a variety of cell types, and is essential for cell cycle progression. In this study we analyzed the level of unphosphorylated Op18 and of its major phosphorylated forms, Op18a and Op18b, in a series of 177 childhood acute leukemias by means of quantitative two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). Op18 phosphorylation was significantly correlated with the white blood count at the time of diganosis, and with a high percentage of cells in the S phase. Our findings suggest that strategies to inhibit Op18 expression or phosphorylation may be effective in inhibiting leukemia cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0510, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melhem
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hailat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuick
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hanash
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008868:Microtubule Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016196:S Phase / Q000502:physiology; D050777:Stathmin
chemical_list: D008868:Microtubule Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C493995:STMN1 protein, human; D050777:Stathmin