Discovery of a first-in-class reversible DNMT1-selective inhibitor with improved tolerability and efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia.

DNA methylation, a key epigenetic driver of transcriptional silencing, is universally dysregulated in cancer. Reversal of DNA methylation by hypomethylating agents, such as the cytidine analogs decitabine or azacytidine, has demonstrated clinical benefit in hematologic malignancies. These nucleoside analogs are incorporated into replicating DNA where they inhibit DNA cytosine methyltransferases DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B through irreversible covalent interactions.

Activation of the p53-MDM4 regulatory axis defines the anti-tumour response to PRMT5 inhibition through its role in regulating cellular splicing.

Evasion of the potent tumour suppressor activity of p53 is one of the hurdles that must be overcome for cancer cells to escape normal regulation of cellular proliferation and survival. In addition to frequent loss of function mutations, p53 wild-type activity can also be suppressed post-translationally through several mechanisms, including the activity of PRMT5. Here we describe broad anti-proliferative activity of potent, selective, reversible inhibitors of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) including GSK3326595 in human cancer cell lines representing both hematologic and solid malignancies.

Distinct isoforms of the Drosophila Brd4 homologue are present at enhancers, promoters and insulator sites.

Brd4 is a double bromodomain protein that has been shown to interact with acetylated histones to regulate transcription by recruiting Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b to the promoter region. Brd4 is also involved in gene bookmarking during mitosis and is a therapeutic target for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. The Drosophila melanogaster Brd4 homologue is called Fs(1)h and, like its vertebrate counterpart, encodes different isoforms.

Genome-wide phosphoacetylation of histone H3 at Drosophila enhancers and promoters.

Transcription regulation is mediated by enhancers that bind sequence-specific transcription factors, which in turn interact with the promoters of the genes they control. Here, we show that the JIL-1 kinase is present at both enhancers and promoters of ecdysone-induced Drosophila genes, where it phosphorylates the Ser10 and Ser28 residues of histone H3. JIL-1 is also required for CREB binding protein (CBP)-mediated acetylation of Lys27, a well-characterized mark of active enhancers.