Interaction of MLL amino terminal sequences with menin is required for transformation.
Rearrangements of the mixed lineage leukemia gene MLL are associated with aggressive lymphoid and myeloid leukemias. The resulting MLL fusion proteins enforce high-level expression of HOX genes and the HOX cofactor MEIS1, which is pivotal for leukemogenesis. Both wild-type MLL and MLL fusion proteins interact with the tumor suppressor menin and with the Hoxa9 locus in vivo. Here, we show that MLL sequences between amino acids 5 and 44 are required for interaction with menin and for the transformation of hematopoietic progenitors. Blocking the MLL-menin interaction by the expression of a dominant negative inhibitor composed of amino terminal MLL sequences down-regulates Meis1 expression and inhibits cell proliferation, suggesting that targeting this interaction may be an effective therapeutic strategy for leukemias with MLL rearrangements.
Caslini
Corrado
C
Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Yang
Zhaohai
Z
El-Osta
Mohamad
M
Milne
Thomas A
TA
Slany
Robert K
RK
Hess
Jay L
JL
D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015870:Gene Expression; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075064:Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 Protein; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C497422:KMT2A protein, human; C000616391:MEIS1 protein, human; C105373:MEN1 protein, human; D000075064:Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase