Biology subjects

Stanulovic, V. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Stanulovic, V. S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

PHF6 Interacts with LMO2 During Normal Haematopoiesis and in Leukaemia and Regulates Gene Expression and Genome Integrity

The transcriptional mediator LIM domain only 2 (LMO2) forms a large multi-protein complex together with TAL1/LYL1, HEB/E2A, LDB1 and GATA. This complex regulates transcription from the onset of haematopoietic development and during differentiation. Chromosomal re-arrangements involving LMO and other members of the complex are causative for T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL). We have identified Plant Homeodomain (PHD)-like Finger 6 (PHF6) as a new LMO2 interacting factor. Somatic mutations in PHF6 have been found to occur in several types of leukaemia. We show that PHF6 interacts with LMO2 during the initial stages of the haematopoietic development, myeloid differentiation and in T-ALL. The LMO2/PHF6 complex binds the DNA and regulates linage-specific gene expression. Additionally, a loss or reduction of LMO2 and PHF6 leads to chromosomal instability. PHF6 and LMO2 are required for maintaining levels of {gamma}H2AX and 53BP1, where PHF6 is important for {gamma}H2AX accumulation and LMO2 has a role in recruiting 53BP1 to {gamma}H2AX foci.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Survival and Proliferation of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Depends on mTOR-regulated Glutamine Uptake and EAAT1 Activity

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) is a cancer of the immune system. Approximately 20% of paediatric and 50% of adult T-ALL patients have refractory disease or relapse and die from the disease. To improve patient outcome new therapeutics are needed. With the aim to identify new therapeutic targets, we analysed the metabolic adaptations that T-ALL cells exhibit and found that glutamine uptake is essential for their proliferation. Isotope tracing experiments showed that glutamine fuels aspartate synthesis through the TCA cycle and that glutamine and glutamine-derived aspartate together supply three nitrogen atoms in purines and all but one atom in pyrimidine rings. We show that the glutamate-aspartate transporter EAAT1, which is normally only expressed in the CNS, is crucial for glutamine conversion to nucleotides and that T-ALL cell proliferation depends on EAAT1 function. Through this work, we identify EAAT1 as a novel therapeutic target for T-ALL treatment.

cancer biology↗