Menin, histone h3 methyltransferases, and regulation of cell proliferation: current knowledge and perspective

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Epigenetics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Menin, encoded by the MEN1 gene, is a tumor suppressor associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1).
• Loss of menin impacts endocrine and non-endocrine cell proliferation, but its regulatory mechanisms were unclear.
• Recent research highlights menin's complex role in cell proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the mechanisms by which menin regulates cell proliferation.
• To explore menin's interactions with transcriptional regulators and epigenetic modifiers.
• To understand the cell type-specific functions of menin in gene expression and cell cycle control.

Main Methods:

• Investigated menin's interactions with transcriptional regulators.
• Examined menin's association with histone H3 methyltransferases, like MLL.
• Analyzed menin's role in epigenetic histone modifications and gene expression patterns.

Main Results:

• Menin represses proliferation in endocrine cells but promotes it in certain leukemia cells.
• Menin functions as a scaffold protein, coordinating gene transcription and cell proliferation.
• Menin's biological functions are linked to epigenetic histone modifications and cell type-specific gene expression.

Conclusions:

• Menin is a crucial regulator of histone modifiers, coordinating gene transcription and cell proliferation in a context-dependent manner.
• This highlights menin's coordinating role in epigenetics and cell cycle regulation.
• Provides insights into beta cell function, diabetes, endocrine tumors, and leukemia development and therapy.