3'UTR-mediated gene silencing of the Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene.

ABSTRACT: Translocations involving the Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene generate in-frame fusions of MLL with more than 50 different partner genes (PGs). Common to all MLL translocations is the exchange not only of coding regions, but also of MLL and PG 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTRs). As a result, the MLL-PG fusion is normally highly expressed and considered the main driver of leukemia development, whereas the function of the PG-MLL fusions in leukemic disease is unclear. As 3'UTRs have been recognized as determinant regions for regulation of gene expression, we hypothesized that loss of the MLL 3'UTR could have a role in generating high MLL-PG levels and leukemia development. Here, we first tested the MLL-PG and PG-MLL mRNA levels in different leukemic cells and tumours and uncovered differentia

SUBMITTER: Gomez-Benito M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3187771 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature