ETO, but not leukemogenic fusion protein AML1/ETO, augments RBP-Jkappa/SHARP-mediated repression of notch target genes

Notch is a transmembrane receptor that determines cell fates and pattern formation in all animal species. After specific ligand binding, the intracellular part of Notch is cleaved off and translocates to the nucleus, where it targets the DNA binding protein RBP-Jkappa. In the absence of Notch, RBP-Jkappa represses Notch target genes by recruiting a corepressor complex. We and others have previously identified SHARP as one component of this complex. Here, we show that the corepressor ETO as well as the leukemogenic fusion protein AML1/ETO directly interacts with SHARP, that ETO is part of the endogenous RBP-Jkappa-containing corepressor complex, and that ETO is found at Notch target gene promoters. In functional assays, corepressor ETO, but not AML1/ETO, augments SHARP-mediated repression in an histone deacetylase-dependent manner. Furthermore, either the knockdown of ETO or the overexpression of AML1/ETO activates Notch target genes. Therefore, we propose that AML1/ETO can disturb the normal, repressive function of ETO at Notch target genes. This activating (or derepressing) effect of AML1/ETO may contribute to its oncogenic potential in myeloid leukemia.     

A hematopoietic-specific transmembrane protein, Art-1, is possibly regulated by AML1

The functions of AML1 in hematopoietic differentiation are repressed by AML1-mutants including the AML1/ETO chimeric protein, which is seen in t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia. Erythroid progenitors of the patients with t(8;21) AML expressed AML1/ETO. To investigate the effect of AML1/ETO in erythroid cells, we made a tetracycline-regulated AML1/ETO overexpression system in mouse erythroleukemic (MEL) cells. Enforced AML1/ETO repressed the terminal erythroid differentiation. Furthermore, we performed representational difference analysis using this MEL cell system to clone the downstream targets of AML1 in erythroid cell differentiation. We cloned a novel transmembrane protein, Art-1 (AML1-regulated transmembrane protein 1), which is a member of tetramembrane spanning superfamily. Art-1 expression was restricted in hematopoietic cells. It was upregulated by AML1 and downregulated by AML1/ETO in both erythroid and myeloid cells, and increased during erythroid cell differentiation. Art-1 may play an important role in the differentiation of erythroid cells, possibly as a direct downstream target of AML1.