Aberrant chromatin at genes encoding stem cell regulators in human mixed-lineage leukemia.

Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) fusion proteins are potent inducers of leukemia, but how these proteins generate aberrant gene expression programs is poorly understood. Here we show that the MLL-AF4 fusion protein occupies developmental regulatory genes important for hematopoietic stem cell identity and self-renewal in human leukemia cells. These MLL-AF4-bound regions have grossly altered chromatin structure, with histone modifications catalyzed by trithorax group proteins and DOT1 extending across large domains.

Expression of leukemic MLL fusion proteins in Drosophila affects cell cycle control and chromosome morphology.

The Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene is involved in lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia through chromosome translocations leading to fusion of MLL to partner genes, or through internal MLL rearrangements. MLL is the mammalian counterpart of the Drosophila trithorax (trx) gene, involved in maintaining active gene expression states. We have used transgenic Drosophila to assess the molecular targets and cellular processes affected by MLL and two of its leukemic fusion proteins.

ALL-1/MLL1, a homologue of Drosophila TRITHORAX, modifies chromatin and is directly involved in infant acute leukaemia.

Rearrangements of the ALL-1/MLL1 gene underlie the majority of infant acute leukaemias, as well as of therapy-related leukaemias developing in cancer patients treated with inhibitors of topoisomerase II, such as VP16 and doxorubicin. The rearrangements fuse ALL-1 to any of >50 partner genes or to itself. Here, we describe the unique features of ALL-1-associated leukaemias, and recent progress in understanding molecular mechanisms involved in the activity of the ALL-1 protein and of its Drosophila homologue TRITHORAX.

Expression profiles of acute lymphoblastic and myeloblastic leukemias with ALL-1 rearrangements.

The ALL-1 gene is directly involved in 5-10% of acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs) and acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) by fusion to other genes or through internal rearrangements. DNA microarrays were used to determine expression profiles of ALLs and AMLs with ALL-1 rearrangements. These profiles distinguish those tumors from other ALLs and AMLs.

Upregulation of Meis1 and HoxA9 in acute lymphocytic leukemias with the t(4 : 11) abnormality.

Rearrangements of the human ALL-1 gene are frequently encountered in acute lymphocytic leukemias (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemias (AML). These rearrangements are mostly due to chromosome translocations and result in production of chimeric proteins composed of the N-terminal fragment of ALL-1 and the C-terminal segments of the partner proteins. The most common chromosome translocation involving ALL-1 is the t(4 : 11) associated with ALL.

huASH1 protein, a putative transcription factor encoded by a human homologue of the Drosophila ash1 gene, localizes to both nuclei and cell-cell tight junctions.

During animal development, regions of the embryo become committed to position-specific identities, which are determined by spatially restricted expression of Hox/homeotic genes. This expression pattern is initially established by the activity of the segmentation genes and is subsequently maintained during the proliferative stage through the action of transcription factors encoded by the trithorax (trx) and Polycomb (Pc) groups of genes. trithorax (trx)and ash1 (absent, small, or homeotic 1) are members of the Drosophila trx group.

Self-association of the SET domains of human ALL-1 and of Drosophila TRITHORAX and ASH1 proteins.

The human ALL-1 gene is involved in acute leukemia through gene fusions, partial tandem duplications or a specific deletion. Several sequence motifs within the ALL-1 protein, such as the SET domain, PHD fingers and the region with homology to DNA methyl transferase are shared with other proteins involved in transcription regulation through chromatin alterations. However, the function of these motifs is still not clear.

Trithorax and ASH1 interact directly and associate with the trithorax group-responsive bxd region of the Ultrabithorax promoter.

Trithorax (TRX) and ASH1 belong to the trithorax group (trxG) of transcriptional activator proteins, which maintains homeotic gene expression during Drosophila development. TRX and ASH1 are localized on chromosomes and share several homologous domains with other chromatin-associated proteins, including a highly conserved SET domain and PHD fingers. Based on genetic interactions between trx and ash1 and our previous observation that association of the TRX protein with polytene chromosomes is ash1 dependent, we investigated the possibility of a physical linkage between the two proteins.

The C-terminal SET domains of ALL-1 and TRITHORAX interact with the INI1 and SNR1 proteins, components of the SWI/SNF complex.

The ALL-1 gene was discovered by virtue of its involvement in human acute leukemia. Its Drosophila homolog trithorax (trx) is a member of the trx-Polycomb gene family, which maintains correct spatial expression of the Antennapedia and bithorax complexes during embryogenesis. The C-terminal SET domain of ALL-1 and TRITHORAX (TRX) is a 150-aa motif, highly conserved during evolution.

[Substrate properties of dioxolane analogs of 3'-deoxythymidine-5'-triphosphate in DNA synthesis reactions, catalyzed by various DNA polymerases].

The substrate properties of 3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate analogs prepared on the basis of 2,4-disubstituted 1,3-dioxolanes were investigated in reactions of the DNA synthesis catalyzed by various DNA polymerases. The 4'-triphosphates of (+/-)-cis-4-hydroxymethyl-2-(1-thyminylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolane and the corresponding (+/-)-trans-isomer were shown to be terminating substrates of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. 4'-Triphosphate of (+/-)-cis-4-hydroxymethyl-2-(1-thyminylmethyl)- 1,3-dioxolane terminates the DNA synthesis catalyzed by HIV reverse transcriptase, whereas 2'-triphosphate of (+/-)-cis-2-hydromethyl-4-(1-thyminylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolane is a terminator in the DNA synthesis catalyzed by HIV reverse transcriptase and the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I.

[2'-Deoxynucleoside-5'-triphosphate, modified via the carbohydrate and triphosphate residues, in the DNA synthesis reaction].

We have investigated the substrate properties of deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate analogues, modified in the carbohydrate and triphosphate moieties, in DNA synthesis catalyzed by different DNA polymerases and reverse transcriptases. It was shown that (3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine-5'-O-methylenephosphonate) diphosphate, (3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-phosphate) dibromomethylenediphosphonate, (3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-phosphate) phosphonoacetate terminate DNA synthesis catalyzed by reverse transcriptases. (2'-Deoxythymidine 5'-phosphate) phosphonoacetate displays substrate properties for DNA polymerase beta, different reverse transcriptases, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, but not for DNA polymerase alpha, Klenow's fragment DNA polymerase I.

[Reverse transcriptase of the human immunodeficiency virus: isolation and substrate specificity].

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-I) reverse transcriptase was expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity (E. coli strain RRI (pRC-RT, pRK 248cIts)).

[Acyclic analogs of 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydronucleoside-5'-triphosphates--terminators of DNA synthesis, catalyzed by a broad set of DNA polymerases].

O-4'-nor-2', 3'-dideoxy-2', 3'-didehydronucleoside 5'-triphosphates are shown to be effective termination substrates of DNA biosynthesis catalyzed by human placental DNA polymerases alpha and epsilon, rat liver DNA polymerase beta, reverse transcriptases of human immunodeficiency virus and avian myeloblastosis virus, and calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. These compounds do not interact only with the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment). The probable reasons of interaction of acyclo-d4NTP with the DNA synthesizing complexes are discussed.

[Fluorescent analogs of nucleoside-5'-phosphates for the study of nucleic acids by nonradioactive methods].

The synthesis of 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate analogues with fluorescent residues of fluorescein and rhodamine nature at C5 of the uracil base was performed. Reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis virus, DNA polymerase beta of rat liver, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase of calf thymus and E. coli DNA polymerase I, Klenow fragment, were shown to be capable to incorporate a nucleotide residue with fluorescent label into 3'-terminus of oligonucleotide.

[Conformation limited nucleoside-5'-phosphates as termination substrates for DNA-polymerases].

We have investigated the ability of some nucleoside 5'-triphosphate analogues to terminate the DNA synthesis catalyzed by calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, rat liver DNA polymerase beta, E. coli DNA polymerase I (Klenow's fragment) and AMV reverse transcriptase. It has been shown that lyxoanhydronucleoside 5'-triphosphates terminate DNA synthesis catalyzed by reverse transcriptase and terminal deoxynucleotydil transferase.

[Analogs of pyrophosphate in a pyrophosphorolysis reaction catalyzed by DNA polymerases].

The reaction of pyrophosphorolysis catalyzed by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I Klenov fragment, calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha, rat liver DNA polymerase beta and AMV reverse transcriptase was studied. Some pyrophosphate (PPi) analogs were taken as low molecular weight substrates. It was shown that only imidodiphosphonic acid acted as the PPi substrate analog for the reactions catalyzed by DNA polymerases I and alpha, both imidodiphosphonic acid and methylenediphosphonic acid were active in the case of DNA polymerase beta and reverse transcriptase.

[DNA polymerase I, Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli: hydrolysis and pyrophosphorolysis of DNA containing phosphothioate groups].

Reaction of DNA synthesis catalyzed by DNA polymerase I KF in the presence of 2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-alpha-thiotriphosphates (dNTP alpha S) was investigated. DNA with thiophosphate groups (DNA[P=S]) obtained by such a way was studied in reactions of hydrolysis and pyrophosphorolysis catalyzed by DNA polymerase I KF. It is shown that the rate of DNA elongation is decreased both on the step of incorporation of dNMP alpha S residues and on the step of incorporation of the next dNMP residue.