title: MLL3/MLL4/COMPASS Family on Epigenetic Regulation of Enhancer Function and Cancer.
abstract: During development, precise spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression are coordinately controlled by cis-regulatory modules known as enhancers. Their crucial role in development helped spur numerous studies aiming to elucidate the functional properties of enhancers within their physiological and disease contexts. In recent years, the role of enhancer malfunction in tissue-specific tumorigenesis is increasingly investigated. Here, we direct our focus to two primary players in enhancer regulation and their role in cancer pathogenesis: MLL3 and MLL4, members of the COMPASS family of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferases, and their complex-specific subunit UTX, a histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) demethylase. We review the most recent evidence on the underlying roles of MLL3/MLL4 and UTX in cancer and highlight key outstanding questions to help drive future research and contribute to our fundamental understanding of cancer and facilitate identification of therapeutic opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Robert H. Lurie NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
authors.forename: Christie C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sze
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Robert H. Lurie NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shilatifard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015870:Gene Expression; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; C452979:KMT2C protein, human; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C530816:MLL4 protein, human