AF6q21, a novel partner of the MLL gene in t(6;11)(q21;q23), defines a forkhead transcriptional factor subfamily.
Fusion genes implicating the MLL gene have been recently demonstrated in various 11q23 chromosomal abnormalities in human hematopoietic malignancies. We analyzed a t(6;11)(q21;q23) translocation detected in a secondary acute myeloblastic leukemia. This translocation results in fusion of the MLL gene on 11q23 to a previously unknown gene on chromosome 6 that differs from the previously reported MLL partner gene AF6q. The novel gene, named AF6q21, encodes a forkhead (FH) protein with strong similarities to the two FH family members whose genes are already known to be involved in chromosomal translocations of human malignancies, AFX and FKHR. Strikingly, in these translocations the breakpoints are located at the same position within the FH domains. Therefore, AF6q21, AFX, and FKHR could define a new FH subfamily particularly involved in human malignancies.
Hillion
J
J
Unité Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U301 and Structure d' Intervention (SD) 401 No. 301 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Génétique Moléculaire, Paris, France.
Le Coniat
M
M
Jonveaux
P
P
Berger
R
R
Bernard
O A
OA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D001483:Base Sequence; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C497422:KMT2A protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase