Project description:The MYC axis is commonly disrupted in cancer, mostly by activation of the MYC family of oncogenes, but also by genetic inactivation of MAX, the obligate partner of MYC, and of the MAX partner, MGA, both of which are members of the polycomb repressive complex, ncPRC1.6. While the oncogenic properties of the MYC family have been extensively studied, the tumor suppressor functions of MAX and MGA and the role of the MYC genes in MAX-mutant cells remain unclear. To address these knowledge gaps, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis in MAX-restituted and MYC oncogenic-transformed cell lines derived from human small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which is a high-grade neuroendocrine type of lung cancer. We found that MAX-mutant SCLC cells express ASCL1 and ASCL1-dependent targets, implying that these cells belong to the ASCL1-dependent group of SCLCs. In the absence of MAX, even after ectopic overexpression of MYC, we found no recruitment of MYC to the DNA. Furthermore, MAX reconstitution triggered pro-differentiation expression profiles that shifted when MAX and oncogenic MYC were co-expressed. Although ncPRC1.6 could be formed, the lack of MAX restricted global MGA occupancy, selectively driving its recruitment towards E2F6 motifs. Conversely, MAX restitution enhanced MGA occupancy and global gene repression of genes involved in different functions, including stem-cell and DNA repair/replication. Our data reveal that MAX-mutant SCLCs have ASCL1 characteristics, and are MYC-independent, and that their oncogenic features include deficient ncPRC1.6-mediated gene repression.
Project description:Richter’s transformation (RT) is a progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to aggressive lymphoma. MGA (Max gene associated), a functional MYC suppressor, is mutated at 3% in CLL and 36% in RT. The, genetic models and molecular mechanisms of MGA deletion driving CLL to RT remain elusive. We established a RT mouse model by knockout of Mga in the Sf3b1/Mdr CLL model via CRISPR-Cas9. Murine RT cells exhibit mitochondrial aberrations with elevated oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). We identified Nme1 (Nucleoside diphosphate kinase) as a Mga target through RNA sequencing and functional characterization, which drives RT by modulating OXPHOS. As NME1 is also a known MYC target without targetable compounds, we found that concurrent inhibition of MYC and ETC complex II significantly prolongs the survival of RT mice in vivo. Our results suggest that Mga-Nme1 axis drives murine CLL-to-RT transition via modulating OXPHOS, highlighting a novel therapeutic avenue for RT.