Mechanistic insights into chromatin targeting by leukemic NUP98-PHF23 fusion.
Zhang, Y., Guo, Y., Gough, S.M., Zhang, J., Vann, K.R., Li, K., Cai, L., Shi, X., Aplan, P.D., Wang, G.G., Kutateladze, T.G.(2020) Nat Commun 11: 3339-3339
- PubMed: 32620764 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17098-4
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6WXK - PubMed Abstract: 
Chromosomal NUP98-PHF23 translocation is associated with an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and poor survival rate. Here, we report the molecular mechanisms by which NUP98-PHF23 recognizes the histone mark H3K4me3 and is inhibited by small molecule compounds, including disulfiram that directly targets the PHD finger of PHF23 (PHF23PHD). Our data support a critical role for the PHD fingers of NUP98-PHF23, and related NUP98-KDM5A and NUP98-BPTF fusions in driving leukemogenesis, and demonstrate that blocking this interaction in NUP98-PHF23 expressing AML cells leads to cell death through necrotic and late apoptosis pathways. An overlap of NUP98-KDM5A oncoprotein binding sites and H3K4me3-positive loci at the Hoxa/b gene clusters and Meis1 in ChIP-seq, together with NMR analysis of the H3K4me3-binding sites of the PHD fingers from PHF23, KDM5A and BPTF, suggests a common PHD finger-dependent mechanism that promotes leukemogenesis by this type of NUP98 fusions. Our findings highlight the direct correlation between the abilities of NUP98-PHD finger fusion chimeras to associate with H3K4me3-enriched chromatin and leukemic transformation.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.