ACTIVATION OF THE ABELSON TYROSINE KINASE-ACTIVITY IS ASSOCIATED WITHSUPPRESSION OF APOPTOSIS IN HEMATOPOIETIC-CELLS

A chromosomal translocation uniquely associated with chronic myeloid l eukemia leads to the formation of a chimeric gene, bcr-abl, on the Phi ladelphia chromosome. The BRC-ABL protein displays an uncontrolled tyr osine kinase activity similar to that seen with the transforming oncog ene of the Abelson murine leukemia (ABL) virus (v-abl). An interleukin 3 dependent cell line, IC.DP, has been transfected with a gene encodi ng a temperature sensitive v-ABL. In the absence of interleukin 3 at t he restrictive temperature for ABL tyrosine kinase activity IC.DP cell s died via apoptosis. At the permissive temperature ABL tyrosine kinas e activity promoted IC.DP cell survival but not proliferation. ABL the refore can specifically suppress apoptosis.