title: The cancer COMPASS: navigating the functions of MLL complexes in cancer.
abstract: The mixed-lineage leukemia family of histone methyltransferases (MLL1-4, or KMT2A-D) were previously linked to cancer through the founding member, MLL1/KMT2A, which is often involved in translocation-associated gene fusion events in childhood leukemias. However, in recent years, a multitude of tumor exome sequencing studies have revealed that orthologues MLL3/KMT2C and MLL2/KMT2D are mutated in a significant percentage of a large variety of malignancies, particularly solid tumors. These unexpected findings necessitate a deeper inspection into the activities and functional differences between the MLL/KMT2 family members. This review provides an overview of this protein family and its relation to cancers, focusing on the recent links between MLL3/KMT2C and MLL2/4/KMT2D and their potential roles as tumor suppressors in an assortment of cell types.
authors: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Program, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Ford
authors: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Program, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA; Oncology Research Institute and Department of Pathology, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA. Electronic address: adingwall@luc.edu.
authors: Andrew K
authors: AK
authors: Dingwall
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics*; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / Q000235:genetics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497422:KMT2A protein, human; C452979:KMT2C protein, human; C120898:KMT2D protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C530816:MLL4 protein, human
keywords: COMPASS complex; Epigenetics; chromatin; enhancers; lysine methyltransferase