Deciphering the MLL induced oncogenic network

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Robert Slany
• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; Cell Biology
• Term: from 2017 to 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 395840986

MLL fusion proteins are transcriptional activators that act as unusually potent oncoproteins. The presence of a MLL fusion can fully transform myeloid cells without any or only with very few additional mutations. This implies that the gene-set, induced by MLL fusions, encodes the full complement of activities necessary for the generation of a clinically overt leukemia. Functional dropout screens have highlighted two transcriptional regulators, an ETS-type transcription factor and a potential chromatin acetylation modifier as critical within this gene regulatory network. Here we intend to investigate the functional importance of these two factors for the establishment of a transformation associated gene expression pattern.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants