Alternative splicing of BCL‑X and implications for treating hematological malignancies (Review)
Wanling Chen, Jinggang Li
Abstract
<em>BCL‑X</em> is a member of the BCL‑2 family. It regulates apoptosis and plays a critical role in hematological malignancies. It is well‑known that >90% of human genes undergo alternative splicing. A total of 10 distinct splicing transcripts of the <em>BCL‑X</em> gene have been identified, including transcript variants 1‑9 and ABALON. Different transcripts from the same gene have different functions. The present review discusses the progress in understanding the different alternative splicing transcripts of <em>BCL‑X</em>, including their characteristics, functions and expression patterns. The potential use of <em>BCL‑X</em> in targeted therapies for hematological malignancies is also discussed.
Topics & Concepts
RNA splicingAlternative splicingOncogeneGeneBiologyCancer researchCell cycleComputational biologyCancerGeneticsMessenger RNARNACell death mechanisms and regulationRNA Interference and Gene DeliveryChronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatments