New findings on cellular functions of Mixed Lineage Leukaemia (MLL) protein, which is closely associated with leukaemia in children and adults, could provide insight into what might be going wrong in the cancerous cell.
MLL or MLL1 protein was first identified for its involvement in chromosomal translocations associated with acute leukaemia in infants and adults. While most researchers focused on how the translocations might lead to cancer, there was hardly any investigation into other essential cellular functions of this protein, according to Dr. Shweta Tyagi of Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), who looked into the role of MLL in cell cycle regulation, a process intimately linked with cancer.
MLL also plays a critical role in proper regulation of Hox genes which give proper symmetry. “MLL gene is so vital for a living organism that if you remove it from mouse, the animal will die”, she added. Describing it as a huge protein of 400 kilodaltons, she said what has been intriguing was most of the focus was on its transcriptional activity. “The region which does transcription is a very small portion of the protein”.
Using RNAi-mediated knockdown, the team at CDFD led by Dr. Shweta showed that MLL was involved in regulating crucial functions like proper chromosome segregation and cytokinesis during mitosis. They found that absence of MLL causes errors in cell division and the process of cytokinesis does not occur. The absence of the protein could play a role in cancer, Dr. Shweta said.
Observing that she was excited about the finding, she said that by understanding what MLL does in mitosis might give a greater insight into what went wrong in MLL-linked leukaemia cell. Not only translocation of the protein, but even its absence could cause problems was a significant highlight of the finding.
The scientists at CDFD will now look in greater detail to find out what exactly went wrong in mitosis. Aamir Ali and Sailaja Naga Veeranki are the other members of the team.
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