title: Gfi-1 oncoproteins in hematopoiesis.
abstract: The family of Gfi-1 zinc finger transcriptional repressor oncoproteins consists of Gfi-1 and Gfi-1B. Recent gene targeting experiments and mutational screening in humans have revealed an essential role for Gfi-1 and Gfi-1B in hematopoiesis. Mice lacking Gfi-1 are unexpectedly neutropenic. Neutrophil differentiation is abolished and T lymphocyte differentiation is partially blocked in these mice. Heterozygous germline mutations of Gfi-1 causes severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) in humans. Ela2, whose germline mutation is the major contributor to hereditary neutropenias, is repressed in vivo by Gfi-1. Gfi-1B disruption is embryonic lethal due to a block of erythropoiesis. Gfi-1B is required for both erythroid and megakaryocyte development. The ongoing identification of repressed target genes and interacting transcriptional cofactors is helping to unravel the central contributions of these two hematopoietic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195-7720, USA. zjduan@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Marshall
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horwitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C498275:GFI1 protein, human; C111977:GFI1B protein, human; C486395:Gfi1b protein, mouse; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors