Shapiro, MIchael J

Abstract During hematopoiesis, proper differentiation of the long-term, multi-potent, self-renewing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) results in the cellular components of blood. The lineage fate decisions that occur during hematopoiesis result from the coordinated regulation of transcriptional activators, repressors, and chromatin modifiers. We have identified NKAP as a novel regulator of hematopoiesis, that functions at least in part as a transcriptional repressor. In this study we employ a combination of conditional and inducible mouse models of NKAP deletion to explore the role of NKAP in hematopoietic development starting at the HSC stage. Our models allow for both the pan-deletion of NKAP starting in the HSC stage by using a vav-cre transgenic, as well as temporally regulated deletion of NKAP in the hematopietic compartment through the use of the interferon-inducible mx1-cre model system. These complimentary approaches allow us to conclude that NKAP functions in a cell intrinsic manner, as a member of a unique group of transcriptional regulators, and is necessary in the earliest stage of definitive hematopoiesis.