Relative expression of different Ikaros isoforms in childhood acute leukemia.

Ikaros is a zinc-finger transcriptional factor playing an essential role in lymphoid lineage commitment and differentiation. Animal models and analysis of human Ikaros in leukemic cells demonstrate deregulation of Ikaros expression. Short isoforms with a truncated DNA-binding domain suppress functions of Ikaros in a dominant-negative manner.