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The gene MLL (encoding the protein mixed-lineage leukemia) is the target of chromosomal translocations that cause leukemias with poor prognosis. All leukemogenic MLL fusion proteins retain the CXXC domain, which binds to nonmethylated CpG DNA sites. We present the solution structure of the MLL CXXC domain in complex with DNA, showing how the CXXC domain distinguishes nonmethylated from methylated CpG DNA. On the basis of the structure, we generated point mutations that disrupt DNA binding. Introduction of these mutations into the MLL-AF9 fusion protein resulted in increased DNA methylation of specific CpG nucleotides in Hoxa9, increased H3K9 methylation, decreased expression of Hoxa9-locus transcripts, loss of immortalization potential, and inability to induce leukemia in mice. These results establish that DNA binding by the CXXC domain and protection against DNA methylation is essential for MLL fusion leukemia. They also provide support for viewing this interaction as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatoma Derived Growth Factor (HDGF) is an endogenous nuclear-targeted mitogen that is linked with human disease. HDGF is a member of the weakly conserved PWWP domain family. This 70-amino acid motif, originally identified from the WHSC1 gene, has been found in more than 60 eukaryotic proteins. In addition to the PWWP domain, many proteins in this class contain known chromatin remodeling domains, suggesting a role for HDGF in chromatin remodeling. We have determined the NMR structure of the HDGF PWWP domain to high resolution using a combination of NOEs, J-couplings, and dipolar couplings. Comparison of this structure to a previously determined structure of the HDGF PWWP domain shows a significant difference in the C-terminal region. Comparison to structures of other PWWP domains shows a high degree of similarity to the PWWP domain structures from Dnmt3b and mHRP. The results of selected and amplified binding assay and NMR titrations with DNA suggest that the HDGF PWWP domain may function as a nonspecific DNA-binding domain. Based on the NMR titrations, we propose a model of the interaction of the PWWP domain with DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core binding factors (CBFs) are heterodimeric transcription factors consisting of a DNA-binding CBFa subunit and non-DNA-binding CBFß subunit. The CBFß subunit increases the affinity of the DNA-binding Runt domain of CBFa for DNA while making no direct contacts to the DNA. We present evidence for conformational exchange in the S-switch region in a Runt domain-DNA complex that is quenched upon CBFß binding. Analysis of 15N backbone relaxation parameters shows that binding of CBFß reduces the backbone dynamics in the microsecond-to-millisecond time frame for several regions of the Runt domain that make energetically important contacts with the DNA. The DNA also undergoes conformational exchange in the Runt domain-DNA complex that is quenched in the presence of CBFß. Our results indicate that allosteric regulation by the CBFß subunit is mediated by a shift in an existing dynamic conformational equilibrium of both the Runt domain and DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromosomal translocations involving the human CBFB gene, which codes for the non-DNA binding subunit of CBF (CBFβ), are associated with a large percentage of human leukemias. The translocation inv(16) that disrupts the CBFB gene produces a chimeric protein composed of the heterodimerization domain of CBFβ fused to the C-terminal coiled-coil domain from smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (CBFβ-SMMHC). Isothermal titration calorimetry results show that this fusion protein binds the Runt domain from Runx1 (CBFα) with higher affinity than the native CBFβ protein. NMR studies identify interactions in the CBFβ portion of the molecule, as well as the SMMHC coiled-coil domain. This higher affinity provides an explanation for the dominant negative phenotype associated with a knock-in of the CBFB-MYH11 gene and also helps to provide a rationale for the leukemia-associated dysregulation of hematopoietic development that this protein causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]