Condensate-promoting ENL mutation induces tumorigenesis via chromatin remodeling [RNA-seq]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Gain-of-function mutations in the chromatin ‘reader’ ENL, identified in AML and Wilms tumor, have been shown to induce aberrant formation of transcriptional condensates in cellular systems. However, the precise role of these mutations and their condensate forming property in tumorigenesis remains unclear. By creating a conditional knock-in mouse model for the most prevalent ENL mutation, we establish ENL mutant as a bona fide oncogenic driver of acute myeloid leukemia in vivo. Heterozygous expression of ENL mutant perturbs the normal hematopoietic hierarchy and results in the aberrant expansion of myeloid progenitors with increased self-renewal property. Furthermore, the ENL mutant remodels histone modifications to alter differentiation processes and drive oncogenic gene expression during hematopoietic development. Importantly, targeted point mutagenesis to disrupt the condensate formation property completely abolishes ENL mutant’s oncogenic function in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Lastly, short-term treatment with a small molecule inhibitor that blocks the acetyl-binding activity of ENL mutant reverts its impact on chromatin and significantly delays leukemia development in mice. Our studies reveal the crucial biological function of mutation-induced transcriptional condensates in chromatin regulation and cancer in vivo and provide proof-of-concept for targeting of pathogenic condensates as a promising therapy for certain cancers.
Project description:Gain-of-function mutations in the chromatin ‘reader’ ENL, identified in AML and Wilms tumor, have been shown to induce aberrant formation of transcriptional condensates in cellular systems. However, the precise role of these mutations and their condensate forming property in tumorigenesis remains unclear. By creating a conditional knock-in mouse model for the most prevalent ENL mutation, we establish ENL mutant as a bona fide oncogenic driver of acute myeloid leukemia in vivo. Heterozygous expression of ENL mutant perturbs the normal hematopoietic hierarchy and results in the aberrant expansion of myeloid progenitors with increased self-renewal property. Furthermore, the ENL mutant remodels histone modifications to alter differentiation processes and drive oncogenic gene expression during hematopoietic development. Importantly, targeted point mutagenesis to disrupt the condensate formation property completely abolishes ENL mutant’s oncogenic function in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Lastly, short-term treatment with a small molecule inhibitor that blocks the acetyl-binding activity of ENL mutant reverts its impact on chromatin and significantly delays leukemia development in mice. Our studies reveal the crucial biological function of mutation-induced transcriptional condensates in chromatin regulation and cancer in vivo and provide proof-of-concept for targeting of pathogenic condensates as a promising therapy for certain cancers.
Project description:We previously identified the YEATS domain-containing protein ENL as a reader of histone acetylation. Recently, hotspot mutations in ENL were frequently found in Wilms’ tumor, the most common type of pediatric kidney cancer. Here, we report that these cancer-associated mutations in the ENL YEATS domain confer gain of functions in transcriptional control and impair kidney differentiation by driving self-reinforced chromatin targeting. Ectopic expression of ENL mutants in kidney cell lines resulted in transcriptional changes of genes enriched in embryonic nephron progenitors and Wilms’ tumor. When tested in a nephrogenesis assay, ENL mutant expression led to undifferentiated structures resembling those observed in human Wilms’ tumor. Genome-wide analyses revealed that while mutant ENL bound to largely similar genomic loci as wild-type ENL, they exhibited increased occupancy at a subset of targets, including developmentally critical genes such as the HOXA cluster. The cancer-associated mutations enabled self-reinforced recruitment of ENL on chromatin by promoting self-association, resulting in the formation of discrete nuclear puncta that are characteristic of phase-separated biomolecular condensates. Enhanced occupancy of ENL mutants led to a marked increase in the recruitment and activity of transcription elongation machinery that enforces active transcription from target loci. Collectively, our studies represent, to our knowledge, the first discovery that cancer-associated mutations in a chromatin reader drive self-reinforced chromatin targeting, which in turns, perturbs developmental programs and derails normal cell fate control during mammalian development towards an oncogenic path.
Project description:Aberrant formation of biomolecular condensates has been proposed to play a role in several cancers. The oncogenic fusion protein BRD4-NUT forms condensates and drives changes in gene expression in Nut Carcinoma (NC). Here we sought to understand the molecular elements of BRD4-NUT and its associated histone acetyltransferase (HAT), p300, that promote these activities. We determined that a minimal fragment of NUT (MIN) in fusion with BRD4 is necessary and sufficient to bind p300 and form condensates. Furthermore, a BRD4-p300 fusion protein also forms condensates and drives gene expression similarly to BRD4-NUT(MIN), suggesting the p300 fusion may mimic certain features of BRD4-NUT. The intrinsically disordered regions, transcription factor-binding domains, and HAT activity of p300 all collectively contribute to condensate formation by BRD4-p300, suggesting that these elements might contribute to condensate formation by BRD4-NUT. Conversely, only the HAT activity of BRD4-p300 appears necessary to mimic the transcriptional profile of cells expressing BRD4-NUT. Our results suggest a model for condensate formation by the BRD4-NUT:p300 complex involving a combination of positive feedback and phase separation, and show that multiple overlapping, yet distinct, regions of p300 contribute to condensate formation and transcriptional regulation.
Project description:Aberrant formation of biomolecular condensates has been proposed to play a role in several cancers. The oncogenic fusion protein BRD4-NUT forms condensates and drives changes in gene expression in Nut Carcinoma (NC). Here we sought to understand the molecular elements of BRD4-NUT and its associated histone acetyltransferase (HAT), p300, that promote these activities. We determined that a minimal fragment of NUT (MIN) in fusion with BRD4 is necessary and sufficient to bind p300 and form condensates. Furthermore, a BRD4-p300 fusion protein also forms condensates and drives gene expression similarly to BRD4-NUT(MIN), suggesting the p300 fusion may mimic certain features of BRD4-NUT. The intrinsically disordered regions, transcription factor-binding domains, and HAT activity of p300 all collectively contribute to condensate formation by BRD4-p300, suggesting that these elements might contribute to condensate formation by BRD4-NUT. Conversely, only the HAT activity of BRD4-p300 appears necessary to mimic the transcriptional profile of cells expressing BRD4-NUT. Our results suggest a model for condensate formation by the BRD4-NUT:p300 complex involving a combination of positive feedback and phase separation, and show that multiple overlapping, yet distinct, regions of p300 contribute to condensate formation and transcriptional regulation.
Project description:Biomolecular condensates formed by phase separation offer a confined space where protein-protein interactions (PPIs) facilitate distinct biochemical reactions. As their aberrant behavior is associated with disease, it is crucial to understand the molecular organization of PPIs within condensates. Using quantitative time-resolved crosslinking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) we directly and specifically monitor PPIs and protein dynamics inside condensates formed by the protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) and identify its folded RNA recognition motif (RRM) as a key player of aberrant molecular aging. We find that the chaperone HspB8, but not a disease-associated mutant, prevents FUS aging. In XL-MS and partitioning experiments we find that the disordered region of HspB8 directs its α-crystallin domain (αCD) into FUS droplets where HspB8 prevents aging via condensate-specific αCD–RRM interactions. We propose that chaperones like HspB8 prevent aberrant phase transitions by stabilizing aggregation prone folded domains inside condensates in times of cellular stress.
Project description:Biomolecular condensates formed by phase separation offer a confined space where protein-protein interactions (PPIs) facilitate distinct biochemical reactions. As their aberrant behavior is increasingly associated with disease, it is crucial to understand the molecular organization of PPIs within condensates. Using quantitative and time-resolved crosslinkingmass spectrometry we directly and specifically monitor PPIs and protein dynamics of fused in sarcoma (FUS) condensates and identify its RNA recognition motif (RRM) as a key player of condensate-specific PPIs and aging. We find that the chaperone HspB8, but not a disease-associated mutant, prevents FUS aging. The disordered region of HspB8 directs its α-crystallin domain (αCD) into FUS condensates. Here, RRM unfolding drives aggregation but binding of HspB8 via a droplet-specific αCD – RRM interface significantly delays the onset of aging. We propose that chaperones such as HspB8 prevent aberrant phase transitions by stabilizing aggregation prone RNA binding domains in times of cellular stress.
Project description:Like tobacco smoking, habitual marijuana smoking causes numerous adverse pulmonary effects. However, the mechanisms of action involved, especially as compared to tobacco smoke, are still unclear. To uncover putative modes of action, this study employed a toxicogenomics approach to compare the toxicological pathways perturbed following exposure to marijuana and tobacco smoke condensate in vitro. Condensates of mainstream smoke from hand-rolled tobacco and marijuana cigarettes were similarly prepared using identical smoking conditions. Murine lung epithelial cells were exposed to low, medium and high concentrations of the smoke condensates for 6 hr. RNA was extracted immediately or after a 4-hr recovery period and hybridized to mouse whole genome microarrays. Tobacco smoke condensate (TSC) exposure was associated with changes in xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage response. These same pathways were also significantly affected following marijuana smoke condensate (MSC) exposure. Although the effects of the condensates were largely similar, dose-response analysis indicates that the MSC is substantially more potent than TSC. In addition, steroid biosynthesis, apoptosis, and inflammation pathways were more significantly affected following MSC exposure, whereas m-phase cell cycle pathways were more significantly affected following TSC exposure. MSC exposure also appeared to elicit more severe oxidative stress than TSC exposure, which may account for the greater cytotoxicity of MSC. This study shows that in general, MSC impacts many of the same molecular processes as TSC. However, subtle pathway differences can provide insight into the differential toxicities of the two complex mixtures. Murine epithelial lung cells were exposed to tobacco smoke condensates (0, 25, 50, 90 μg/ml) or marijuana smoke condensates (0, 2.5, 5, 10 μg/ml) in serum-free medium for a six hour period. Following the six-hour exposure, cells were either harvested immediately or washed with phosphate-buffered saline and incubated in fresh serum-free medium for a four hour recovery period. Total RNA was extracted from the cells and hybridized against Universal Mouse Reference RNA (Agilent Technologies Canada, Inc.) to Agilent whole mouse genome microarray slides containing 44,000 transcripts. A LOWESS normalization was applied to expression results, and statistically significant genes were identified using the R library MAANOVA. Microarray results were validated by real time RT-PCR.
Project description:The insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein (IGF2BP1) is a conserved RNA-binding protein that regulates RNA stability, localization, and translation. IGF2BP1 is part of various ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates. However, the mechanism that regulates its assembly into condensates remains unknown. Here we found, using proteomics, that IGF2BP1 phosphorylation at S181 in a disordered linker is regulated in a stress-dependent manner. Phosphomimetic mutations in two disordered linkers, S181E and Y396E, modulated RNP condensate formation by IGF2BP1 without impacting its binding affinity for RNA. Intriguingly, the S181E mutant, which lies in linker 1, impaired IGF2BP1 condensate formation in vitro and in cells, whereas a Y396E mutant in the second linker increased condensate size and dynamics. Structural approaches showed that the first linker binds RNAs nonspecifically through its RGG/RG motif, an interaction weakened in the S181E mutant. Notably, linker 2 interacts with IGF2BP1’s folded domains and these interactions were partially impaired in the Y396E mutant. Our data reveal how phosphorylation modulates low affinity interaction networks in disordered linkers to regulate RNP condensate formation.
Project description:The insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein (IGF2BP1) is a conserved RNA-binding protein that regulates RNA stability, localization, and translation. IGF2BP1 is part of various ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates. However, the mechanism that regulates its assembly into condensates remains unknown. Here we found, using proteomics, that IGF2BP1 phosphorylation at S181 in a disordered linker is regulated in a stress-dependent manner. Phosphomimetic mutations in two disordered linkers, S181E and Y396E, modulated RNP condensate formation by IGF2BP1 without impacting its binding affinity for RNA. Intriguingly, the S181E mutant, which lies in linker 1, impaired IGF2BP1 condensate formation in vitro and in cells, whereas a Y396E mutant in the second linker increased condensate size and dynamics. Structural approaches showed that the first linker binds RNAs nonspecifically through its RGG/RG motif, an interaction weakened in the S181E mutant. Notably, linker 2 interacts with IGF2BP1’s folded domains and these interactions were partially impaired in the Y396E mutant. Our data reveal how phosphorylation modulates low affinity interaction networks in disordered linkers to regulate RNP condensate formation.