Identification of MLL and chimeric MLL gene products involved in 11q23 translocation and possible mechanisms of leukemogenesis by MLL truncation

Oncogene. 1996 Nov 7;13(9):1945-53.

Abstract

11q23 chromosome aberrations are frequently observed in infantile as well as therapy-related leukemias. The target gene at 11q23, MLL, is disrupted by the translocation and becomes fused to various translocation partner genes such as AF4/FEL, LTG9/AF9 and LTG19/ENL. The resulting chimeric mRNAs are fused in frame and have been predicted to encode leukemia-specific chimeric proteins. In the present study, we raised antibodies against MLL, LTG9 and LTG19 and demonstrated that MLL and chimeric MLL-LTG9 and MLL-LTG19 products are synthesized in vivo and are localized in the nuclei, using immunofluorescence and cell fractionation studies. The truncated N-terminal portion of the MLL product common to the various types of 11q23 translocation was also localized in the nuclei in a similar fashion. Murine 32Dc13 cells stably expressing the truncated N-terminal MLL protein exhibited an inhibition of differentiation and a growth advantage following stimulation by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, although the IL-3 dependency was not significantly changed in comparison to the parental cells. These results suggest that the N-terminal portion common to various MLL-chimeric products plays an important role in leukemogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies
  • Blotting, Western
  • COS Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Division / genetics
  • Cell Line / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / pharmacology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / genetics*
  • Leukemia / pathology
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / immunology
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Proto-Oncogenes*
  • Rabbits
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Staining and Labeling / methods
  • Transcription Factors*
  • Translocation, Genetic*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • KMT2A protein, human
  • MLLT3 protein, human
  • Mllt3 protein, mouse
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Kmt2a protein, mouse