The role of the AEP complex in MLL fusion-dependent leukemogenesis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23689050
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Hematology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: YOKOYAMA Akihiko 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (10506710)
• Research Collaborator: OKUDA Hiroshi 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定助教 (10629215)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 白血病 / MLL / 転写 / AF4

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cancer threatens the lives of many people. Even the young generation including infants suffers from leukemia. One of the major causes of infant leukemia is the mutation of the MLL gene. The prognosis of this type of leukemia is unfavorable in the current regimens. We aim to develop new therapeutic strategies for this leukemia by deciphering the mechanisms of the genesis of leukemia. In this research, we unveiled the mechanisms by which MLL mutants cause hyper activation of their target genes. We showed that MLL mutants first associate with a transcriptional regulatory factor called AEP and then recruit other regulatory factors to activate gene expression to cause leukemia.

Free Research Field

分子腫瘍学