Mutations in the STAG2 Protein Can Cause Leukemia
Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT) studied hundreds of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They discovered that specific mutations in the STAG2 protein cause altered DNA folding in the cell nucleus, thereby contributing to the development of AML. In collaboration with Prof. Ruud Delwel of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the researchers examined changes in the spatial DNA structure in AML patient samples with and without cohesin mutations. They found that mutations in STAG2 lead to alterations in the DNA structure in AML cells. These changes impair normal gene regulation, resulting in certain genes being either overly activated or not activated at all. What is particularly remarkable about this discovery is that these disturbances cannot be compensated for by the STAG1 protein, highlighting the role of STAG2 in AML.In a further step, the researchers examined hematopoietic…
