title: Leukemogenic MLL-ENL Fusions Induce Alternative Chromatin States to Drive a Functionally Dichotomous Group of Target Genes.
abstract: MLL fusions are leukemogenic transcription factors that enhance transcriptional elongation through modification of chromatin and RNA Pol II. Global transcription rates and chromatin changes accompanying the transformation process induced by MLL-ENL were monitored by nascent RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, revealing 165 direct target genes separated into two distinct clades. ME5 genes bound MLL-ENL at the promoter, relied on DOT1L-mediated histone methylation, and coded preferentially for transcription factors, including many homeobox genes. A distinct ME3 group accumulated MLL-ENL beyond the termination site, was dependent on P-TEFb-mediated phosphorylation of RNA Pol II for transcription, and translated mainly into proteins involved in RNA biology and ribosome assembly. This dichotomy was reflected by a differential sensitivity toward small molecule inhibitors, suggesting the possibility of a combinatorial strategy for treatment of MLL-induced leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria-Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Garcia-Cuellar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartenhagen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dugas
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: robert.slany@fau.de.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Slany
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D051379:Mice; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000378:metabolism*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
keywords: DOT1L; MLL-ENL; P-TEFb; chromatin; inhibitors; leukemia