The discovery this year of a single mutation in the Janus Kinase (JAK)-2 gene in a high percentage of cases of polycythaemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and myelofibrosis suggests that it maybe the underlying molecular mechanism for these disorders. Different approaches from the inhibition of the tyrosine kinase JAK2, widespread search for mutations in tyrosine kinases, and investigation of the short arm of chromosome 9 where JAK2 is located all led to the discovery of the V617F JAK2 mutation. Substitution of a valine for a phenylalanine destabilizes the JH2 domain of JAK2 causes loss of the auto-inhibitory activity of this domain and explains some of the biological phenomena observed in patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). The V617F JAK2 mutation can be detected by PCR-direct sequencing using DNA from the granulocyte lineage or with increased sensitivity by the amplification refractory mutation system using DNA from unfractionated blood. Pyrosequencing assays can be used to quantitate allele ratios to accurately define homozygote and heterozygote status. This single mutation is widespread having been detected in related MPD and other haematological malignancies. This leads to a number of further questions about the role of this single mutation in the clinical pattern of disease.
2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.