Role of the C-terminal actin binding domain in BCR/ABL-mediated survival and drug resistance

Br J Haematol. 2006 Mar;132(6):774-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05949.x.

Abstract

Philadelphia chromosome-positive, chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) stem and progenitor cells have a survival and growth advantage compared with their normal counterparts. The mechanisms through which the BCR/ABL protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) induces these effects and the important domains within this protein are not fully defined. The F- and G-actin binding region of the BCR/ABL C-terminus may be important in BCR/ABL-mediated events, and we have investigated this by expressing a C-terminus deletion mutant of the temperature-sensitive BCR/ABL PTK, in a haemopoietic progenitor cell line, which models the chronic phase of CML. The truncated BCR/ABL PTK displayed similar levels of PTK activity when compared with wild type and activation of second messenger formation (in the form of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol) remains intact. On fibronectin substrata, localisation of the protein to the periphery of the cell was, however, dependent on the C-terminus of BCR/ABL PTK. Deletion of the C-terminus reversed both BCR/ABL-mediated apoptotic suppression and drug resistance although the progenitor cells did retain a proliferative advantage at low concentrations of growth factor. These results demonstrated that the C-terminal actin-binding domain of BCR/ABL is important for some of BCR/ABL PTK-mediated leukaemogenic effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics*
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Division / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cloning, Molecular / methods
  • Cytarabine / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / methods
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / analysis
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyurea / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-3 / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / enzymology
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / mortality
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Actins
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Interleukin-3
  • Lipids
  • Cytarabine
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
  • Hydroxyurea