Open AccessThe gene SCL is expressed during early hematopoiesis and encodes a differentiation-related DNA-binding motif.
Author(s) -
C. Glenn Begley,
Peter D. Aplan,
Stephen M. Denning,
B F Haynes,
Thomas A. Waldmann,
Ilan R. Kirsch
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.86.24.10128
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , untranslated region , complementary dna , enhancer , genetics , fusion protein , gene expression , messenger rna , recombinant dna
We have identified the human gene, SCL. We discovered this gene because of its involvement in a chromosomal translocation associated with the occurrence of a stem cell leukemia manifesting myeloid and lymphoid differentiation capabilities. Here we report the sequence of a cDNA for the normal SCL transcript, as well as for an aberrant fusion transcript produced in the leukemic cells. Although different at their 3' untranslated regions, both cDNAs predict a protein with primary amino acid sequence homology to the previously described amphipathic helix-loop-helix DNA binding and dimerization motif of the Ly1-1, myc, MyoD, immunoglobulin enhancer binding, daughterless, and achaete-scute families of genes. For these cDNAs, at least two different 5' ends are predicted, both of which retain this putative DNA binding domain and predict proteins in the range of 20-30 kDa. SCL mRNA is observed in "early" hematopoietic tissues. Taken together, these studies lead to the speculation that SCL plays a role in differentiation and/or commitment events during hematopoiesis.