Cooperativity of imprinted genes inactivated by acquired chromosome 20q deletions

J Clin Invest. 2013 May;123(5):2169-82. doi: 10.1172/JCI66113. Epub 2013 Apr 1.

Abstract

Large regions of recurrent genomic loss are common in cancers; however, with a few well-characterized exceptions, how they contribute to tumor pathogenesis remains largely obscure. Here we identified primate-restricted imprinting of a gene cluster on chromosome 20 in the region commonly deleted in chronic myeloid malignancies. We showed that a single heterozygous 20q deletion consistently resulted in the complete loss of expression of the imprinted genes L3MBTL1 and SGK2, indicative of a pathogenetic role for loss of the active paternally inherited locus. Concomitant loss of both L3MBTL1 and SGK2 dysregulated erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis, 2 lineages commonly affected in chronic myeloid malignancies, with distinct consequences in each lineage. We demonstrated that L3MBTL1 and SGK2 collaborated in the transcriptional regulation of MYC by influencing different aspects of chromatin structure. L3MBTL1 is known to regulate nucleosomal compaction, and we here showed that SGK2 inactivated BRG1, a key ATP-dependent helicase within the SWI/SNF complex that regulates nucleosomal positioning. These results demonstrate a link between an imprinted gene cluster and malignancy, reveal a new pathogenetic mechanism associated with acquired regions of genomic loss, and underline the complex molecular and cellular consequences of "simple" cancer-associated chromosome deletions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Cell Lineage
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
  • Chromosome Deletion*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genomic Imprinting*
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / genetics
  • Macaca
  • Macropodidae
  • Male
  • Models, Genetic
  • Multigene Family
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / genetics
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • L3MBTL1 protein, human
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • serum-glucocorticoid regulated kinase