The core binding factors are a small family of transcription factors compri
sing a DNA binding CBF alpha subunit and a non-DNA binding CBF beta subunit
. One gene encoding a CBFa subunit, RUNX1 (also known as AML1, CBFA2, and P
EBPA2A), and the gene encoding CBF beta (CBFB) are essential for hematopoie
sis and are frequently mutated in human leukemias. Both genes are required
for the generation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during embryonic deve
lopment. Expression studies in fish and frogs and functional analyses in fl
ies indicate that a role for these genes in hematopoiesis is evolutionarily
conserved. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.