AML-1/ETO fusion protein is a dominant negative inhibitor of transcriptional repression by the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein

Blood. 2000 Dec 1;96(12):3939-47.

Abstract

The AML-1/ETO fusion protein, created by the (8;21) translocation in M2-type acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), is a dominant repressive form of AML-1. This effect is due to the ability of the ETO portion of the protein to recruit co-repressors to promoters of AML-1 target genes. The t(11;17)(q21;q23)-associated acute promyelocytic leukemia creates the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger PLZFt/RAR alpha fusion protein and, in a similar manner, inhibits RAR alpha target gene expression and myeloid differentiation. PLZF is expressed in hematopoietic progenitors and functions as a growth suppressor by repressing cyclin A2 and other targets. ETO is a corepressor for PLZF and potentiates transcriptional repression by linking PLZF to a histone deacetylase-containing complex. In transiently transfected cells and in a cell line derived from a patient with t(8;21) leukemia, PLZF and AML-1/ETO formed a tight complex. In transient assays, AML-1/ETO blocked transcriptional repression by PLZF, even at substoichiometric levels relative to PLZF. This effect was dependent on the presence of the ETO zinc finger domain, which recruits corepressors, and could not be rescued by overexpression of co-repressors that normally enhance PLZF repression. AML-1/ETO also excluded PLZF from the nuclear matrix and reduced its ability to bind to its cognate DNA-binding site. Finally, ETO interacted with PLZF/RAR alpha and enhanced its ability to repress through the RARE. These data show a link in the transcriptional pathways of M2 and M3 leukemia. (Blood. 2000;96:3939-3947)

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / etiology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / etiology
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Matrix / drug effects
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / pharmacology*
  • Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein
  • Protein Binding
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins*
  • RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / pharmacology*
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects*

Substances

  • AML1-ETO fusion protein, human
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • PLZF-RARalpha fusion protein, human
  • Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein
  • RUNX1T1 protein, human
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • ZBTB16 protein, human