EXPRESSION OF AML1 AND ETO TRANSCRIPTS IN HEMATOPOIETIC-CELLS

Recently, two genes, AML1 and ETO have been isolated from the chromoso mal breakpoint of t(8;21). In this study, we isolated and identified f usion transcripts from a leukemic cell line carrying t(8;21). We demon strated by PCR analysis that these transcripts are consistently expres sed in fresh leukemic cells with t(8;21). On the other hand, the wild type of ETO is expressed in several hematopoietic cells from different lineage, while the expression of AML1 was present in all hematopoieti c cells investigated. These widespread expression suggests these molec ules play an essential role in hematopoiesis.