Inducible chromosomal translocation of AML1 and ETO genes through Cre/loxP-mediated recombination in the mouse.
Transgenic mice have been used to explore the role of chromosomal translocations in the genesis of tumors. But none of these efforts has actually involved induction of a translocation in vivo. Here we report the use of Cre recombinase to replicate in vivo the t(8;21) translocation found in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As in the human tumors, the murine translocation fuses the genes AML1 and ETO. We used homologous recombination to place loxP sites at loci that were syntenic with the break points for the human translocation. Cre activity was provided in mice by a transgene under the control of the Nestin promoter, or in cultured B cells by infecting with a retroviral vector encoding Cre. In both instances, Cre activity mediated interchromosomal translocations that fused the AML1 and ETO genes. Thus, reciprocal chromosomal translocations that closely resemble rearrangements found in human cancers can be achieved in mice.
Hooper Research Foundation, University of California San Francisco,  94143-0552, USA. fraenk@itsa.ucsf.edu
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Buchholz
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Refaeli
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Trumpp
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JM
Bishop
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000075142:RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins
C107844:AML1-ETO fusion protein, human; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577485:Nes protein, mouse; D064231:Nestin; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000075142:RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; C493728:RUNX1 protein, human; C082222:RUNX1T1 protein, human; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C493726:Runx1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases