Proton pump inhibitors selectively suppress MLL rearranged leukemia cells via disrupting MLL1-WDR5 protein-protein interaction

Genetic rearrangements of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) leading to oncogenic MLL-fusion proteins (MLL-FPs). MLL-FPs occur in about 10% of acute leukemias and are associated with dismal prognosis and treatment outcomes which emphasized the need for new therapeutic strategies. In present study, by a cell-based screening in-house compound collection, we disclosed that Rabeprazole specially inhibited the proliferation of leukemia cells harboring MLL-FPs with little toxicity to non-MLL cells. Mechanism study showed Rabeprazole down-regulated the transcription of MLL-FPs related Hox and Meis1 genes and effectively inhibited MLL1 H3K4 methyltransferase (HMT) activity in MV4-11 cells bearing MLL-AF4 fusion protein. Displacement of MLL1 probe from WDR5 protein suggested that Rabeprazole may inhibit MLL1 HMT activity through disturbing MLL1-WDR5 protein-protein interaction. Moreover, other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) also indicated the inhibition activity of MLL1-WDR5. Preliminary SARs showed the structural characteristics of PPIs were also essential for the activities of MLL1-WDR5 inhibition. Our results indicated the drug reposition of PPIs for MLL-rearranged leukemias and provided new insight for further optimization of targeting MLL1 methyltransferase activity, the MLL1-WDR5 interaction or WDR5.

Novel sub-cellular localizations and intra-molecular interactions may define new functions of Mixed Lineage Leukemia protein

Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) protein is the best-characterized member of SET family of histone 3 lysine 4 methyltransferase, known for its transcriptional-activation role during development. mll gene rearrangements cause multiple kinds of aggressive leukemia in both children and adults. An important 'first' step in understanding the role of MLL in leukemogenesis would be to identify its localization throughout the cell cycle. In order to fully understand the breath of MLL functions in proliferating cells, we have analyzed its sub-cellular localization during the cell cycle. Our results show that MLL localizes to nucleolus and centrosome in interphase. During mitosis, it localizes to centrosomes and midbody in addition to previously reported spindle apparatus. Our results show that MLL_N is required to translocate MLL_C to the nucleolus. These finding suggest functional roles for MLL in nucleolus and mitosis. We also show how MLL-fusion proteins (MLL-FPs) localize to the same sub-cellular organelles like endogenous MLL. Our results indicate that MLL-fusion proteins may not only disturb the cell homeostasis by gain-of-function of the chimeric protein, but also by interfering with the functions of endogenous MLL.

MLL1 and MLL1 fusion proteins have distinct functions in regulating leukemic transcription program

Mixed lineage leukemia protein-1 (MLL1) has a critical role in human MLL1 rearranged leukemia (MLLr) and is a validated therapeutic target. However, its role in regulating global gene expression in MLLr cells, as well as its interplay with MLL1 fusion proteins remains unclear. Here we show that despite shared DNA-binding and cofactor interacting domains at the N terminus, MLL1 and MLL-AF9 are recruited to distinct chromatin regions and have divergent functions in regulating the leukemic transcription program. We demonstrate that MLL1, probably through C-terminal interaction with WDR5, is recruited to regulatory enhancers that are enriched for binding sites of E-twenty-six (ETS) family transcription factors, whereas MLL-AF9 binds to chromatin regions that have no H3K4me1 enrichment. Transcriptome-wide changes induced by different small molecule inhibitors also highlight the distinct functions of MLL1 and MLL-AF9. Taken together, our studies provide novel insights on how MLL1 and MLL fusion proteins contribute to leukemic gene expression, which have implications for developing effective therapies in the future.

Functional characterisation of different MLL fusion proteins by using inducible Sleeping Beauty vectors

Our focus is the identification, characterisation and functional analysis of different MLL fusions. In general, MLL fusion proteins are encoded by large cDNA cassettes that are difficult to transduce into haematopoietic stem cells. This is due to the size limitations of the packaging process of those vector-encoded RNAs into retro- or lentiviral particles. Here, we present our efforts in establishing a universal vector system to analyse different MLL fusions. The universal cloning system was embedded into the backbone of the Sleeping Beauty transposable element. This transposon has no size limitation and displays no integration preference, thereby avoiding the integration into active genes or their promoter regions. We utilised this novel system to test different MLL fusion alleles (MLL-NEBL, NEBL-MLL, MLL-LASP1, LASP1-MLL, MLL-MAML2, MAML2-MLL, MLL-SMAP1 and SMAP1-MLL) in appropriate cell lines. Stable cell lines were analysed for their growth behaviour, focus formation and colony formation capacity and ectopic Hoxa gene transcription. Our results show that only 1/4 tested direct MLL fusions, but 3/4 tested reciprocal MLL fusions exhibit oncogenic functions. From these pilot experiments, we conclude that a systematic analysis of more MLL fusions will result in a more differentiated picture about the oncogenic capacity of distinct MLL fusions.