Taspase1: unraveling its control mechanisms

Taspase1 is a highly specific endoprotease that hydrolyzes the MLL protein at the two 7mer cleavage sites, CS1 and CS2, respectively. The proteolytic cleavage is necessary for proper epigenetic functions of the MLL complex, which are transcriptional maintenance and the genome-wide programming of cells during differentiation processes. Recently, we have identified that Taspase1 is also hydrolyzing the leukemogenic AF4-MLL fusion protein that derive from t(4;11) chromosomal translocations. The AF4-MLL fusion protein confers oncogenic properties in vitro and results in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemi…