Genome wide mapping of ETV6 binding sites in pre-B leukemic cells

Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 19;8(1):15526. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-33947-1.

Abstract

Genetic alterations in the transcriptional repressor ETV6 are associated with hematological malignancies. Notably, the t(12;21) translocation leading to an ETV6-AML1 fusion gene is the most common genetic alteration found in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Moreover, most of these patients also lack ETV6 expression, suggesting a tumor suppressor function. To gain insights on ETV6 DNA-binding specificity and genome wide transcriptional regulation capacities, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments coupled to deep sequencing in a t(12;21)-positive pre-B leukemic cell line. This strategy led to the identification of ETV6-bound regions that were further associated to gene expression. ETV6 binding is mostly cell type-specific as only few regions are shared with other blood cell subtypes. Peaks localization and motif enrichment analyses revealed that this unique binding profile could be associated with the ETV6-AML1 fusion protein specific to the t(12;21) background. This study underscores the complexity of ETV6 binding and uncovers ETV6 transcriptional network in pre-B leukemia cells bearing the recurrent t(12;21) translocation.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites / genetics*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Genome, Human
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology*
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid*
  • Protein Binding
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets
  • Repressor Proteins