Targeting the stability of chromatin factors driving leukaemia (A06)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 192904750

Inhibitors of several epigenetic regulators are potent in treating leukaemia. Our work has shown that the molecular chaperone Heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) binds chromatin and stabilises key chromatin factors including the Mixed Lineage Leukaemia protein. We hypothesise that destabilising epigenetic regulators by inhibiting Hsp90 will be beneficial in controlling leukaemia. We shall identify the oncogenic network of proteins stabilised by Hsp90 at chromatin and define the genome-wide location of Hsp90 binding in leukaemic cells. The outcome of the project will pave a way for new concepts for therapeutic intervention.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 992: Medical Epigenetics (MEDEP) - From Basic Mechanisms to Clinical Applications
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Co-Applicant Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie und Epigenetik
• Project Head: Dr. Ritwick Sawarkar, Ph.D.