Enhanced expression and activity of DNA polymerase beta in chronic myelogenous leukemia.
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.
Canitrot
Yvan
Y
Groupe Instabilité Génétique et Cancer, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, UMR CNRS 5089, Toulouse, France. canitrot@ipbs.fr
Laurent
Guy
G
Astarie-Dequeker
Catherine
C
Bordier
Christine
C
Cazaux
Christophe
C
Hoffmann
Jean-Sébastien
JS
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
D019951:DNA Polymerase beta