[PDF][PDF] Enhancer malfunction in cancer

HM Herz, D Hu, A Shilatifard - Molecular cell, 2014 - cell.com
Molecular cell, 2014cell.com
Why certain point mutations in a general transcription factor are associated with specific
forms of cancer has been a major question in cancer biology. Enhancers are DNA regulatory
elements that are key regulators of tissue-specific gene expression. Recent studies suggest
that enhancer malfunction through point mutations in either regulatory elements or factors
modulating enhancer-promoter communication could be the cause of tissue-specific cancer
development. In this Perspective, we will discuss recent findings in the identification of …
Why certain point mutations in a general transcription factor are associated with specific forms of cancer has been a major question in cancer biology. Enhancers are DNA regulatory elements that are key regulators of tissue-specific gene expression. Recent studies suggest that enhancer malfunction through point mutations in either regulatory elements or factors modulating enhancer-promoter communication could be the cause of tissue-specific cancer development. In this Perspective, we will discuss recent findings in the identification of cancer-related enhancer mutations and the role of Drosophila Trr and its human homologs, the MLL3 and MLL4/COMPASS-like complexes, as enhancer histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) monomethyltransferases functioning in enhancer-promoter communication. Recent genome-wide studies in the cataloging of somatic mutations in cancer have identified mutations in intergenic sequences encoding regulatory elements—and in MLL3 and MLL4 in both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. We propose that cancer-associated mutations in MLL3 and MLL4 exert their properties through the malfunction of Trr/MLL3/MLL4-dependent enhancers.
cell.com