Abl gene

The abl gene is associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The abl gene is located on the 9th chromosome. This gene is activated by being translocated within the bcr (breakpoint cluster region) gene on chromosome 22. This new abl/bcr (chimeric) gene encodes a tyrosine kinase which allows the cells to proliferate without being regulated by cytokines. This in turn allows the cell to become cancerous.

This gene is fused with the bcr gene in a Philadelphia chromosome, the characteristic abnormality in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and rarely in some other leukemia forms. The bcr-abl transcript is also a tyrosine kinase, which activates mediators of the cell cycle regulation system, leading to a clonal myeloproliferative disorder. The bcr-abl protein can be inhibited with the agent imatinib mesylate, which occupies the TK domain and inhibits bcr-abls influence on the cell cycle.