Transcriptional silencing of the ETS1 oncogene contributes to human granulocytic differentiation

Ets-1 is a widely expressed transcription factor implicated in several biological processes including hematopoiesis, where it contributes to the regulation of cellular differentiation. The functions of Ets-1 are regulated by transcription factors as well as by phosphorylation events: phosphorylation of threonine 38 activates Ets-1, whereas phosphorylation of a cluster of serines within exon VII reduces DNA binding activity. This study focuses on the role of Ets-1 during granulocytic differentiation of NB4 promyelocytic and HL60 myeloblastic leukemia cell lines induced by all-trans retinoic acid