title: Enhanced expression and activity of DNA polymerase beta in chronic myelogenous leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterized by an initial chronic phase that invariably evolves to the more aggressive phase of blast crisis. Although the determinants of this transition are still unknown, it has been shown that the blast crisis is accompanied by genetic instability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression and activity of the error-prone DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) were investigated in blood samples from CML patients, by Western blotting and by an in vitro replication assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pol beta expression and activity were significantly higher in CML samples compared to those of healthy donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the excess of pol beta in CML could contribute to the genetic instability observed during the evolution of the disease from the chronic phase to blast crisis.
authors.affiliation: Groupe Instabilité Génétique et Cancer, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, UMR CNRS 5089, Toulouse, France. canitrot@ipbs.fr
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Canitrot
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Astarie-Dequeker
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bordier
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cazaux
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D019951:DNA Polymerase beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D019951:DNA Polymerase beta