MLL core components give the green light to histone methylation.
Trimethylation of histone H3 Lys4 (H3K4) is associated with transcriptional activation. One of the chief effectors of H3K4 methylation is mixed-lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1), a gene that is disrupted by chromosomal translocation in acute leukemia and a master regulator of Hox and other genes. In a recent paper, core components of the human MLL histone methyltransferase (MT) complex were found to form a structural platform, with one component (WDR5) mediating association between the specific histone H3K4 substrate and the MT. This novel regulatory mechanism, which is conserved from yeast to human, is required for both methylation and downstream target gene transcription.
Crawford
Brendan D
BD
Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine Road, M5240 MS1, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0602, USA.
Hess
Jay L
JL
D000818:Animals; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D006657:Histones; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D008780:Methyltransferases