Mutation analysis of PU.1 in neutron-induced mouse myeloid leukemia

Abstract

In radiation-induced murine myeloidleukemia (rML), a partial alleic loss of chromosome 2 (del2) occurs frequently. It has been believed, therefore, that there is a tumor suppressor gene in the common deletion region (cdr). PU.1, which locates within this cdr, is proposed as a causative gene of myeloid leukemia. We here examined mutation analysis of PU.1 in 41 gamma-ray-induced and 22 neutron(10MeV)-induced leukemia. Point mutations in DNA binding domain of PU.1 were observed in more than 70% of leukemia regardless of the radiation sources. These results suggest that PU.1 is a common target gene in radiation-induced myeloid leukemia, regardless of LET.