Abstract
The mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) H3K4 methyltransferase protein, and the heterodimeric RUNX1/CBFβ transcription factor complex, are critical for definitive and adult hematopoiesis, and both are frequently targeted in human acute leukemia. We identified a physical and functional interaction between RUNX1 (AML1) and MLL and show that both are required to maintain the histone lysine 4 trimethyl mark (H3K4me3) at 2 critical regulatory regions of the AML1 target gene PU.1. Similar to CBFβ, we show that MLL binds to AML1 abrogating its proteasome-dependent degradation. Furthermore, a subset of previously uncharacterized frame-shift and missense mutations at the N terminus of AML1, found in MDS and AML patients, impairs its interaction with MLL, resulting in loss of the H3K4me3 mark within PU.1 regulatory regions, and decreased PU.1 expression. The interaction between MLL and AML1 provides a mechanism for the sequence-specific binding of MLL to DNA, and identifies RUNX1 target genes as potential effectors of MLL function.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acute Disease
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Blotting, Western
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Cell Line
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
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Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / genetics
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Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / metabolism*
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Core Binding Factor beta Subunit / genetics
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Core Binding Factor beta Subunit / metabolism
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Gene Expression
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HEK293 Cells
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Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
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Histones / metabolism*
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Humans
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Leukemia, Myeloid / genetics
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Leukemia, Myeloid / metabolism
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Leukemia, Myeloid / pathology
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Lysine / metabolism
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Methylation
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Mutation*
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Myelodysplastic Syndromes / genetics
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Myelodysplastic Syndromes / metabolism
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Myelodysplastic Syndromes / pathology
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Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / genetics
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Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / metabolism*
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Protein Binding
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
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Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / genetics*
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Trans-Activators / genetics*
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Trans-Activators / metabolism
Substances
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CBFB protein, human
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Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
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Core Binding Factor beta Subunit
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Histones
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KMT2A protein, human
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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RUNX1 protein, human
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Trans-Activators
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proto-oncogene protein Spi-1
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Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
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Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
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Lysine