Mechanism and relevance of EWS/FLI-mediated transcriptional repression in Ewing sarcoma

S Sankar, R Bell, B Stephens, R Zhuo, S Sharma… - Oncogene, 2013 - nature.com
S Sankar, R Bell, B Stephens, R Zhuo, S Sharma, DJ Bearss, SL Lessnick
Oncogene, 2013nature.com
Ewing sarcoma provides an important model for transcription-factor-mediated oncogenic
transformation because of its reliance on the ETS-type fusion oncoprotein EWS/FLI. EWS/FLI
functions as a transcriptional activator and transcriptional activation is required for its
oncogenic activity. Here, we demonstrate that a previously less-well characterized
transcriptional repressive function of the EWS/FLI fusion is also required for the transformed
phenotype of Ewing sarcoma. Through comparison of EWS/FLI transcriptional profiling and …
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma provides an important model for transcription-factor-mediated oncogenic transformation because of its reliance on the ETS-type fusion oncoprotein EWS/FLI. EWS/FLI functions as a transcriptional activator and transcriptional activation is required for its oncogenic activity. Here, we demonstrate that a previously less-well characterized transcriptional repressive function of the EWS/FLI fusion is also required for the transformed phenotype of Ewing sarcoma. Through comparison of EWS/FLI transcriptional profiling and genome-wide localization data, we define the complement of EWS/FLI direct downregulated target genes. We demonstrate that LOX is a previously undescribed EWS/FLI-repressed target that inhibits the transformed phenotype of Ewing sarcoma cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that the NuRD co-repressor complex interacts with EWS/FLI, and that its associated histone deacetylase and LSD1 activities contribute to the repressive function. Taken together, these data reveal a previously unknown molecular function for EWS/FLI, demonstrate a more highly coordinated oncogenic transcriptional hierarchy mediated by EWS/FLI than previously suspected, and implicate a new paradigm for therapeutic intervention aimed at controlling NuRD activity in Ewing sarcoma tumors.
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