Project description:MLL-fusions are potent oncogenes that initiate aggressive forms of acute leukemia. As aberrant transcriptional regulators, MLL-fusion proteins alter gene expression in hematopoietic cells through interactions with the histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79) methyltransferase DOT1L. Notably, interference with MLL-fusion cofactors like DOT1L is an emerging therapeutic strategy in this disease. Here we identify the histone H2B E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF20 as an additional requirement for MLL-fusion-mediated leukemogenesis. Suppressing the expression of Rnf20 in diverse models of MLL-rearranged leukemia leads to inhibition of cell proliferation; under tissue culture conditions as well as in vivo. Rnf20 knockdown leads to reduced expression of MLL-fusion target genes, including Hoxa9 and Meis1; effects that resemble Dot1l-inhibition. Using ChIP-seq, we found that H2B ubiquitination (H2Bub) is enriched in the body of MLL-fusion target genes, correlating with sites of H3K79 methylation and transcription elongation. Furthermore, we found that Rnf20 is required to maintain local levels of H3K79 di-methylation by Dot1l at Hoxa9 and Meis1. These findings support a model whereby co-transcriptional recruitment of Rnf20 at MLL-fusion target genes leads to amplification of Dot1l-mediated H3K79 methylation, thereby rendering leukemia cells dependent on Rnf20 to maintain their oncogenic transcriptional program. Examination of gene expression profiles upon RNF20 RNAi in MLL-AF9 acute myeloid leukemia cells
Project description:MLL-fusions are potent oncogenes that initiate aggressive forms of acute leukemia. As aberrant transcriptional regulators, MLL-fusion proteins alter gene expression in hematopoietic cells through interactions with the histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79) methyltransferase DOT1L. Notably, interference with MLL-fusion cofactors like DOT1L is an emerging therapeutic strategy in this disease. Here we identify the histone H2B E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF20 as an additional requirement for MLL-fusion-mediated leukemogenesis. Suppressing the expression of Rnf20 in diverse models of MLL-rearranged leukemia leads to inhibition of cell proliferation; under tissue culture conditions as well as in vivo. Rnf20 knockdown leads to reduced expression of MLL-fusion target genes, including Hoxa9 and Meis1; effects that resemble Dot1l-inhibition. Using ChIP-seq, we found that H2B ubiquitination (H2Bub) is enriched in the body of MLL-fusion target genes, correlating with sites of H3K79 methylation and transcription elongation. Furthermore, we found that Rnf20 is required to maintain local levels of H3K79 di-methylation by Dot1l at Hoxa9 and Meis1. These findings support a model whereby co-transcriptional recruitment of Rnf20 at MLL-fusion target genes leads to amplification of Dot1l-mediated H3K79 methylation, thereby rendering leukemia cells dependent on Rnf20 to maintain their oncogenic transcriptional program.
Project description:We demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of the histone deacetylase inhibitor Panobinostat (LHB589) against MLL-rearranged ALL using xenograft mouse models of MLL-rearranged ALL cell lines and primary patient cells. Panobinostat monotherapy showed strong anti-leukaemic effects, extending survival and reducing overall disease burden. Comprehensive molecular analyses in vitro showed the anti-leukaemic activity in MLL-rearranged ALL to involve depletion of H2B ubiquitination via suppression of the RNF20/RNF40/WAC E3 ligase complex.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) maintain high genomic plasticity, essential for their capacity to enter diverse differentiation pathways. Post-transcriptional modifications of chromatin histones play a pivotal role in maintaining this plasticity. We now report that one such modification, monoubiquitylation of histone H2B on lysine 120 (H2BK120ub1), catalyzed by the E3 ligase RNF20, increases during ESC differentiation and is required for efficient execution of this process. This increase is particularly important for the transcriptional induction of long genes during ESC differentiation. Furthermore, we identify USP44 as a deubiquitinase whose downregulation by differentiation signals contributes to the increase in H2BK120ub1. Our findings suggest that optimal ESC differentiation requires dynamic changes in H2B ubiquitylation patterns, which must occur in a timely and well-coordinated manner. RNF20 depleted or control NTera2 cells stimulated with RA for 72 hours
Project description:Ubiquitylation of H2B on lysine 120 (H2Bub) is associated with active transcriptional elongation. H2Bub has been implicated in histone cross-talk and is generally regarded to be a prerequisite for H3K4 and H3K79 tri-methylation in both yeast and mammalian cells. We performed a genome-wide analysis of epigenetic marks during muscle differentiation, and, strikingly, we observed a near-complete loss of H2Bub in the differentiated state. We examined the basis for global loss of this mark and found that the H2B ubiquitin E3 ligase, RNF20, was depleted from chromatin in differentiated myotubes, indicating that recruitment of this protein to genes substantially decreases upon differentiation. Remarkably, during the course of myogenic differentiation, we observed retention and acquisition of H3K4 tri-methylation on a large number of genes in the absence of detectable H2Bub. The Set1 H3K4 trimethylase complex was efficiently recruited to a subset of genes in myotubes in the absence of detectable H2Bub, accounting in part for H3K4 tri-methylation in myotubes. Our studies suggest that H3K4me3 deposition in the absence of detectable H2Bub in myotubes is mediated via Set1 and, perhaps, MLL complexes, whose recruitment does not require H2Bub. Thus, muscle cells represent a novel setting in which to explore mechanisms that regulate histone cross-talk. Mapping of H2Bub in growing myoblasts (MB) and fully differentiated myotubes (MT).
Project description:Signal-responsive gene expression is essential for vascular growth and patterning, yet the mechanisms allowing the integration of signaling inputs and transcriptional activities are largely unknown. Here we show that RNF20, the major E3 ubiquitin ligase of histone H2B, plays a key role during sprouting angiogenesis by mediating Pol II promoter-proximal pausing at pro-angiogenic genes. Furthermore, it orchestrates large-scale mRNA processing events, which change the bioavailability and function of critical pro-angiogenic factors, such as VEGFA. Mechanistically, we show that RNF20 restricts ERG-dependent gene activation through the VEGF-ERK1/2 axis while enabling Notch1 to bind to chromatin, thereby modulating the VEGF-Notch signaling circuits. Since perturbations of RNF20 are associated with cardiovascular malformations in human patients, our work may provide novel therapeutic avenues for diseases caused by vascular dysfunction.
Project description:Signal-responsive gene expression is essential for vascular growth and patterning, yet the mechanisms allowing the integration of signaling inputs and transcriptional activities are largely unknown. Here we show that RNF20, the major E3 ubiquitin ligase of histone H2B, plays a key role during sprouting angiogenesis by mediating Pol II promoter-proximal pausing at pro-angiogenic genes. Furthermore, it orchestrates large-scale mRNA processing events, which change the bioavailability and function of critical pro-angiogenic factors, such as VEGFA. Mechanistically, we show that RNF20 restricts ERG-dependent gene activation through the VEGF-ERK1/2 axis while enabling Notch1 to bind to chromatin, thereby modulating the VEGF-Notch signaling circuits. Since perturbations of RNF20 are associated with cardiovascular malformations in human patients, our work may provide novel therapeutic avenues for diseases caused by vascular dysfunction.
Project description:Signal-responsive gene expression is essential for vascular growth and patterning, yet the mechanisms allowing the integration of signaling inputs and transcriptional activities are largely unknown. Here we show that RNF20, the major E3 ubiquitin ligase of histone H2B, plays a key role during sprouting angiogenesis by mediating Pol II promoter-proximal pausing at pro-angiogenic genes. Furthermore, it orchestrates large-scale mRNA processing events, which change the bioavailability and function of critical pro-angiogenic factors, such as VEGFA. Mechanistically, we show that RNF20 restricts ERG-dependent gene activation through the VEGF-ERK1/2 axis while enabling Notch1 to bind to chromatin, thereby modulating the VEGF-Notch signaling circuits. Since perturbations of RNF20 are associated with cardiovascular malformations in human patients, our work may provide novel therapeutic avenues for diseases caused by vascular dysfunction.
Project description:Tight control of cell fate choices is crucial for proper vessel development. Here we show that Rnf20, the major E3 ubiquitin ligase of histone H2B, plays a key role in the tight control of VEGF-Notch signaling, which is crucial for proper vessel growth and patterning, as well as for the dynamic tip-stalk cell fate at the vascular front. We demonstrate that Rnf20 is dynamically expressed in the developing retina and controls vessel growth through two distinct modes of action. On the one hand, it restricts gene activation by the endothelial transcription factor ERG and on the other, it orchestrates large-scale mRNA processing events, which change the bioavailability and function of critical pro-angiogenic factors. We show that Rnf20 plays a key role for the upregulation of both VEGFR2 through alternative polyadenylation and VEGFA through intron inclusion, as well as for suppressing the ability of Notch1 to bind to chromatin. Interestingly, perturbations of RNF20 have been associated with complex cardiovascular malformations in human patients, suggesting that delineating the mechanisms that control Rnf20 expression and activity may provide new insights into diseases caused by vascular dysfunction.
Project description:Tight control of cell fate choices is crucial for proper vessel development. Here we show that Rnf20, the major E3 ubiquitin ligase of histone H2B, plays a key role in the tight control of VEGF-Notch signaling, which is crucial for proper vessel growth and patterning, as well as for the dynamic tip-stalk cell fate at the vascular front. We demonstrate that Rnf20 is dynamically expressed in the developing retina and controls vessel growth through two distinct modes of action. On the one hand, it restricts gene activation by the endothelial transcription factor ERG and on the other, it orchestrates large-scale mRNA processing events, which change the bioavailability and function of critical pro-angiogenic factors. We show that Rnf20 plays a key role for the upregulation of both VEGFR2 through alternative polyadenylation and VEGFA through intron inclusion, as well as for suppressing the ability of Notch1 to bind to chromatin. Interestingly, perturbations of RNF20 have been associated with complex cardiovascular malformations in human patients, suggesting that delineating the mechanisms that control Rnf20 expression and activity may provide new insights into diseases caused by vascular dysfunction.