1. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
MEDICAL UTILITY
The discovery of these genes control, will
make possible advances in treating infec-
tious diseases, genetic defects and can-
GENETIC
c e r treatments, also create new treat-
ments for autoimmune dis-
REGULATORS
eases. INVOLVED WITH
Research
IMMUNE
on genetic
regu lator s
SYSTEM AND T
has been of
increasing
CELLS
interest in
recent years Bibliography
because these proteins
hold the key to which genes
are expressed, instructing one cell to be-
come a brain cell while another is di-
 Long Li, Mark Laid, and Ellen V.
rected to become a blood cell.
Rothenberg. Genetic Regulator
Opens New Avenues to AIDS, Im-
mune System Research. Science, 2
With the control of this gene should be
July 20 10 : 89 - 93 . From:
possible to develop drugs that decrease,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/rele
increase or otherwise modify Ctip2 activ-
ases/2010/07/100701145527.htm
ity, and such drugs may be useful in the
treatment of certain malig-
nancies, such as leukae-
 Li et al. How T Cells Make a Com-
DANIEL BECERRA URIBE
mia, and skin cancers. MEDICINE STUDENT
mitment. Science, 7 July 2010; 329
( 5 9 8 7 ) : 8 . F r o m : III SEMESTER
http://www.sciencedaily.com/rele
ases/2010/07/100702100150.htm
 MARTINEZ SANCHEZ, Lina María.
Biología molecular. 5ta ED. Me-
dellín: UPB 2009
MONDAY, AUGUST 23/2010

2. INTRODUCTION
GENETIC REGULATOR HOW T CELLS MAKE A
Some investigators have discovered OPENS NEW AVENUES TO COMMITMENT
that a genetic regulator which is critical AIDS, IMMUNE SYSTEM The Bcl11b gene produces what is
to many life functions also plays a key
role in the formation of "T cells," a type
RESEARCH known as a transcription factor -- a pro-
tein that controls the activity of other
of white blood cell that's important in The genetic regulator, or transcription genes. Specifically, the gene is a rep-
immune function, helping to destroy factor, is called Ctip2, and it's also known ressor, which means it shuts off other
invading pathogens, the answer is as Bcl11b. It's a protein that controls gene genes. This is crucial for T cells
"expression, or what aspects of a cell's and these have a
when the cells begin expressing a par-
genetic code will be turned on and which remarkable ability
ticular gene called Bcl11b. will be left silent. Ctip2 has in recent to grow and
The discovery suggests that some years been found to be a master regulator Bcl11b is a long-
types of immune function might be in- of gene expression, controlling tissue for- sought part of
fluenced by manipulation of this ge- mation in organs as diverse as tooth that mechanism
netic regulator. This could be a target enamel, brain cells, skin, and T cells. T
cells are important players in what's Once T cells ma-
for drug development, and could open ture, their abilities
called the "adaptive" immune system, or
the door to new immune system-based the ability of an organism to mount an at- to keep dividing and mi-
therapies for everything from diseases tack against a new invader, fight it off and grating around the body also give
of T cells, such as HIV/AIDS, to autoim- then provide full or partial immunity to it them the opportunity to have their
mune disorders and allergies. in the future. Ctip2 helps regulate the daughters adopt different roles in the
complicated process that ends up creat- immune system as they encounter and
The Bcl11b
ing T cells. interact with other types of cells. When
gene pro- the future T cells move into the thymus,
duces what Ctip2 seems to be a very top-level regula- they have the option to become other
is known as tor of development and differentiation in cells, such as mast, killer cells, and an-
a transcrip- many different cell types. tigen-presenting cells, At this point,
tion factor, a the Bcl11b gene gets turned on.
Student Opinion
protein that
controls the This is a very important
activity of other genes. Specifically, the research because it Student Opinion
gives us clues about
gene is a repressor, which means it new possibilities for I think this is a very interesting re-
shuts off other genes. This is crucial for the treatment of many search area because it allows us to ob-
T cells, because T cells are derived diseases and some serve the importance of transcription
from multipotent hematopoietic stem ways to take control f a c t or s a n d pr ov i d e s v a l u -
about genetic mistakes . able information about how just one
cells.
gene can change some body life.