The LMO2 Master Gene; Its Role as a Transcription Regulator Determining Cell Fate in Leukemogenesis and in Hematopoiesis

The LMO2 gene typifies the type of gene associated with chromosomal translocation breakpoints in acute leukemia. This gene encodes a protein that displays features of a transcriptional regulator, a developmental regulator and a master gene regulator, as proposed previously for chromosomal translocation genes in acute tumors. In this chapter the authors summarize data illustrating these points, which show the normal role of Lmo2 in hematopoiesis and vascular formation and the aberrant role in the development of T cells prior to tumor formation.