The breakpoint cluster region protein (BCR) also known as renal carcinoma antigen NY-REN-26 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BCRgene. BCR is one of the two genes in the BCR-ABL fusion protein, which is associated with the Philadelphia chromosome. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.
A reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 22 and 9 produces the Philadelphia chromosome, which is often found in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The chromosome 22 breakpoint for this translocation is located within the BCR gene. The translocation produces a fusion protein that is encoded by sequence from both BCR and ABL, the gene at the chromosome 9 breakpoint.[7]
The BCR-ABL oncoprotein oligomerisation domain found at the N-terminus of BCR is essential for the oncogenicity of the BCR-ABL fusion protein. The BCR-ABL oncoprotein oligomerisation domain consists of a short N-terminal helix (alpha-1), a flexible loop and a long C-terminal helix (alpha-2). Together these form an N-shaped structure, with the loop allowing the two helices to assume a parallel orientation. The monomeric domains associate into a dimer through the formation of an antiparallelcoiled coil between the alpha-2 helices and domain swapping of two alpha-1 helices, where one alpha-1 helix swings back and packs against the alpha-2 helix from the second monomer. Two dimers then associate into a tetramer.[8] Structure-based engineering starting from the antiparallel coiled coil domain of the BCR-ABL oncoprotein (BCR30-65) resulted in a new pH-sensitive homodimeric antiparallel coiled coil.[9]
Ling X, Ma G, Sun T, Liu J, Arlinghaus RB (January 2003). "Bcr and Abl interaction: oncogenic activation of c-Abl by sequestering Bcr". Cancer Research. 63 (2): 298–303. PMID12543778.
Pendergast AM, Muller AJ, Havlik MH, Maru Y, Witte ON (July 1991). "BCR sequences essential for transformation by the BCR-ABL oncogene bind to the ABL SH2 regulatory domain in a non-phosphotyrosine-dependent manner". Cell. 66 (1): 161–171. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(91)90148-R. PMID1712671. S2CID9933891.
Hallek M, Danhauser-Riedl S, Herbst R, Warmuth M, Winkler A, Kolb HJ, etal. (July 1996). "Interaction of the receptor tyrosine kinase p145c-kit with the p210bcr/abl kinase in myeloid cells". British Journal of Haematology. 94 (1): 5–16. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2141.1996.6102053.x. PMID8757502. S2CID30033345.
Bai RY, Jahn T, Schrem S, Munzert G, Weidner KM, Wang JY, etal. (August 1998). "The SH2-containing adapter protein GRB10 interacts with BCR-ABL". Oncogene. 17 (8): 941–948. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1202024. PMID9747873. S2CID20866214.
Stanglmaier M, Warmuth M, Kleinlein I, Reis S, Hallek M (February 2003). "The interaction of the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase with the Src kinase Hck is mediated by multiple binding domains". Leukemia. 17 (2): 283–289. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2402778. PMID12592324. S2CID8695384.
Liedtke M, Pandey P, Kumar S, Kharbanda S, Kufe D (October 1998). "Regulation of Bcr-Abl-induced SAP kinase activity and transformation by the SHPTP1 protein tyrosine phosphatase". Oncogene. 17 (15): 1889–1892. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1202117. PMID9788431. S2CID42228230.