The tal gene undergoes chromosome translocation in T cell leukemia and potentially encodes a helix-loop-helix protein. |
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Authors: | Q Chen J T Cheng L H Tasi N Schneider G Buchanan A Carroll W Crist B Ozanne M J Siciliano and R Baer |
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Institution: | Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235. |
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Abstract: | We have analyzed t(1;14)(p32;q11) chromosome translocations from two patients with T cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. The chromosome 1 breakpoints of these patients lie within a kilobasepair of each other, and thus define a genetic locus (designated tal) involved in T cell oncogenesis. Moreover, we have identified sequences within tal that potentially encode an amphipathic helix-loop-helix motif, a DNA-binding domain found in a variety of proteins that control cell growth and differentiation. The homology domain of tal is especially related to that of lyl-1, a gene on chromosome 19 that has also been implicated in T cell oncogenesis. Hence, tal and lyl-1 encode a distinct family of helix-loop-helix proteins involved in the malignant development of lymphocytes. |
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