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BioEssays 9/2012
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.201290041
Subject(s) - telomere , metaphase , replication (statistics) , mitosis , biology , genetics , function (biology) , centromere , chromosome , dna , virology , gene
Menin is a central hub controlling mixed lineage leukemia. Mixed lineage leukemia is an aggressive acute leukemia that is refractory to current therapies, evidenced by a poor prognosis in patients. On pages 771–780 of this issue, Thiel et al. review recent findings that highlight potential avenues for targeted therapy to treat this disease. Chromosomal translocations in the MLL gene lead to the expression of MLL fusion proteins, which upregulate a subset of wild‐type (WT) MLL target genes to drive leukemogenesis. Menin, a DNA‐binding scaffold protein, coordinates WT MLL and MLL fusion protein recruitment to target genes, both of which are essential for maintaining leukemic transformation. The recently solved co‐crystal structure of menin in complex with a portion of MLL that is found in both WT MLL and MLL fusion proteins (see cover) highlights menin as a central hub and potential therapeutic target in mixed lineage leukemia. Cover by Austin T. Thiel.