Mutation of cancer driver MLL2 results in transcription stress and genome instability

Abstract

Genome instability is a recurring feature of tumorigenesis. Mutation in MLL2, encoding a histone methyltransferase, is a driver in numerous different cancer types, but the mechanism is unclear. Here, we present evidence that MLL2 mutation results in genome instability. Mouse cells in which MLL2 gene deletion can be induced display elevated levels of sister chromatid exchange, gross chromosomal aberrations, 53BP1 foci, and micronuclei. Human MLL2 knockout cells are characterized by genome instability as well. Interestingly, MLL2 interacts with RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and RECQL5, and, although MLL2 mutated cells have normal overall H3K4me levels in genes, nucleosomes in the immediate vicinity of RNAPII are hypomethylated. Importantly,MLL2 mutated cells display signs of substantial transcription stress, and the most affected genes overlap with early replicating fragile sites, show elevated levels ofγH2AX, and suffer frequent mutation. The requirement for MLL2 in the maintenance of genome stability in genes helps explain its widespread role in cancer and points to transcription stress as a strong driver in tumorigenesis.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/gad.275453.115
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > Aston Medical School
Additional Information: © 2016 Kantidakis et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press This article, published in Genes & Development, is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution 4.0 International), as described at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Cancer,Genomic instability,KMT2D,MLL2,Mutation,Transcription,Genetics,Developmental Biology
Publication ISSN: 1549-5477
Last Modified: 11 Dec 2024 08:14
Date Deposited: 15 Oct 2018 15:28
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
http://genesdev ... ontent/30/4/408 (Publisher URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2016-02-15
Accepted Date: 2016-01-15
Authors: Kantidakis, Theodoros (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-3515-5235)
Saponaro, Marco
Mitter, Richard
Horswell, Stuart
Kranz, Andrea
Boeing, Stefan
Aygün, Ozan
Kelly, Gavin P.
Matthews, Nik
Stewart, Aengus
Stewart, A. Francis
Svejstrup, Jesper Q.

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