Arginine methylation of the p30 C/EBPα oncoprotein regulates progenitor proliferation and myeloid differentiation




Nguyen, Linh T.; Zimmermann, Karin; Kowenz-Leutz, Elisabeth; Dörr, Dorothea; Schütz, Anja; Schönheit, Jörg; Mildner, Alexander; Leutz, Achim

PublisherCell Press

2024

iScience

iScience

111199

27

11

2589-0042

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111199

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111199

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/459205997



The transcription factor CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) is a master regulator of myelopoiesis. CEBPA encodes a long (p42) and a truncated (p30) protein isoform from a single mRNA. Mutations that abnormally enhance expression of p30 are associated with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). We show by mutational analysis that three highly conserved arginine residues in the p30 C/EBPα N-terminus, previously found to be methylated, are involved in myeloid lineage commitment, progenitor proliferation, and differentiation. The conservative amino acid substitution with lysine that retains the amino acid side chain charge enhanced progenitor proliferation, while a non-conservative substitution with uncharged side chains (alanine, leucine) impaired proliferation and enhanced granulopoiesis. Analysis of protein interactions suggested that arginine methylation of p30 C/EBPα differentially determines interactions with SWI/SNF and MLL complexes. Pharmacological targeting of p30 C/EBPα arginine methylation may have clinical relevance in myeloproliferative and inflammatory diseases, in neutropenia, and in leukemic stem cells.

Last updated on 2025-27-01 at 19:35