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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

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Isolation of Cognate RNA-protein Complexes from Cells Using Oligonucleotide-directed Elution
Published on: January 16, 2017
RNA export factor RAE1 contributes to NUP98-HOXA9-mediated leukemogenesis
Tatsuyoshi Funasaka1, Hiroshi Nakano, Yu Wu
1Kanazawa University; Kanazawa, Japan.
Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|April 7, 2011
Summary
The mRNA export factor RAE1 plays a crucial role in NUP98 fusion-driven acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Targeting the RAE1-NUP98 interaction may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for aggressive leukemias.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Hematology
Background:
- Chromosomal translocations involving NUP98 fusions are common in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
- The NUP98 N terminus interacts with RAE1 and transcription factors HDAC1/p300, but their role in leukemogenesis is unclear.
- Previous work linked RAE1 depletion to aneuploidy and enhanced tumorigenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of RAE1 in NUP98 fusion-mediated leukemogenesis.
- To determine if RAE1 is a direct player in the development of AML driven by NUP98 fusions.
Main Methods:
- RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of NUP98 in cellular models.
- Rescue experiments to assess the function of the RAE1-NUP98 complex.
- Cell cycle analysis of NUP98 and NUP98-HOXA9 fusion proteins.
- Analysis of RAE1 expression and localization in transfected cells, transgenic mice, and AML patients.
Main Results:
- NUP98 knockdown caused chromosome segregation defects and disrupted RAE1 expression/localization.
- The RAE1-NUP98 complex is essential for proper chromosome segregation.
- NUP98-HOXA9 fusion protein expression led to reduced and mis-localized RAE1.
- These findings were corroborated in NUP98-HOXA9 transgenic mice and AML patients.
Conclusions:
- RAE1 is a key orchestrator of NUP98-mediated leukemogenesis.
- A negative feedback loop involving RAE1 and NUP98 fusions exists in AML.
- Targeting this RAE1-NUP98 interaction presents a potential therapeutic avenue for aggressive leukemias.
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