Identification of NKIAMRE, the human homologue to the mitogen-activated protein kinase-/cyclin-dependent kinase-related protein kinase NKIATRE, and its loss in leukemic blasts with chromosome arm 5q deletion

Human acute leukemia and myelodysplasia are often associated with an inters titial deletion in chromosome arm 5q. The deleted region is hypothesized to contain tumor suppressor loci that are critical to the maintenance of norm al hematopoiesis. We have identified NKIAMRE, a novel cyclin-dependent kina se-related molecule that is closely related to the rat serine/threonine kin ase NKIATRE. Human NKIAMRE localizes to chromosome band 5q31.1, centromeric to the interleukin 9 locus and telomeric to IFN response factor-1. NKIAMRE was deleted at both alleles in 9 of 18 leukemic samples with chromosome ba nd 5q31 abnormalities studied by fluorescence in situ chromosomal hybridiza tion. NKIAMRE loss may be an important determinant of dysmyelopoiesis.