The U2AF homology motif kinase 1 (UHMK1) is upregulated upon hematopoietic cell differentiation.

The U2AF homology motif kinase 1 (UHMK1) is upregulated upon hematopoietic cell differentiation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2018 Jan 04;: Authors: Barbutti I, Machado-Neto JA, Arfelli VC, de Melo Campos P, Traina F, Saad STO, Archangelo LF Abstract UHMK1 (KIS) is a nuclear serine/threonine kinase that possesses a U2AF homology motif and phosphorylates and regulates the activity of the splicing factors SF1 and SF3b155. Mutations in these components of the spliceosome machinery have been recently implicated in leukemogenesis. The fact that UHMK1 regulates these factors suggests that UHMK1 might be involved in RNA processing and perhaps leukemogenesis. Here we analyzed UHMK1 expression in normal hematopoietic and leukemic cells as well as its function in leukemia cell line. In the normal hematopoietic compartment, markedly higher levels of transcripts were observed in differentiated lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+) compared to the progenitor enriched subpopulation (CD34+) or leukemia cell lines. UHMK1 expression was upregulated in megakaryocytic-, monocytic- and granulocytic-induced differentiation of established leukemia cell lines and in erythrocytic-induced differentiation of CD34+ cells. No aberrant expression was observed in patient samples of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid (AML) or lymphoblastic (ALL) leukemia. Nonetheless, in MDS patients, increased levels of UHMK1 expression positively impacted event free and overall...
Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Biochim Biophys Acta Source Type: research