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Interactions of Retroviral and Cellular Transforming Genes with Hematopoietic Cells
Author(s) -
EVA ALESSANDRA,
PIERCE JACALYN H.,
AARONSON STUART A.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1987.tb36245.x
Subject(s) - biology , gene , retrovirus , haematopoiesis , genetics , gene duplication , oncogene , chromosomal translocation , stem cell , cell cycle
Investigations of a small group of RNA tumor viruses, the acute transforming retroviruses, have led to important insights into the mechanisms by which their cell‐derived oncogenes confer to the virus properties essential for the induction and maintenance of the transformed state. While oncogenes were initially discovered as cellular genes captured by acute transforming retroviruses, it has become apparent in recent years that these same cellular genes or proto‐oncogenes may be frequent targets for the genetic changes that lead normal cells along the pathway to malignancy under natural conditions, independent of retrovirus involvement. The conversion of proto‐oncogenes to oncogenes can be due to DNA rearrangements resulting from chromosomal translocations, gene amplification, and other mechanisms affecting their normal regulation and expression. Even genetic changes as subtle as point mutations have been shown to lead to oncogene activation. The present review summarizes knowledge of the functions of oncogenes, their effects on hematopoietic cells, and the current stage of knowledge linking these genes to human hematopoietic malignancies.