title: Cloning of ELL, a gene that fuses to MLL in a t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) in acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: To characterize the functions of MLL fusion transcripts, we cloned the gene that fuses to MLL in the translocation t(11;19)(q23;p13.1). This translocation is distinct from another type of 11;19 translocation with a 19p13.3 breakpoint that results in the fusion of MLL to the ENL gene. By PCR screening of a cDNA library prepared from a patient's leukemia cells with this translocation, we obtained a fusion transcript containing exon 7 of MLL and sequence of an unknown gene. The sequence of this gene was amplified and used as a probe to screen a fetal brain cDNA library. On Northern blot analysis, this cDNA detected a 4.4-kb transcript that was abundant in peripheral blood leukocytes, skeletal muscle, placenta, and testis and expressed at lower levels in spleen, thymus, heart, brain, lung, kidney, liver, and ovary. In addition, a 2.8-kb transcript was present in peripheral blood, testis, and placenta. On "zoo blots," this gene was shown to be evolutionarily conserved in 10 mammalian species as well as in chicken, frog, and fish. We have named this gene ELL (for eleven-nineteen lysine-rich leukemia gene). A highly basic, lysine-rich motif of the predicted ELL protein is homologous to similar regions of several proteins, including the DNA-binding domain of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. The characterization of the normal functions of ELL as well as its altered function when fused to MLL will be critical to further our understanding of the mechanisms of leukemogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, IL 60637.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thirman
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Levitan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rowley
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D015723:Gene Library; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007621:Karyotyping; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C090862:ELL protein, human; C497422:KMT2A protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase