Vaccinations in CLL: implications for COVID-19
Mazyar Shadman, Chaitra S. Ujjani
Abstract
How does BAHD1 find its target genes? Unlike GATA1, BAHD1 does not contain a DNA-binding domain, so it cannot recognize its target genes via specific DNA elements. Instead, it binds to a repressive chromatin modification, namely triple methylation of the twenty-seventh lysine residue of histone subunit H3 (H3K27me3). 5 This epigenetic mark is deposited by the polycomb repressor complex. 6 To investigate the interplay of FBXO11-BADH1 and epigenetic modifiers, the investigators performed a second CRISPR screen in FBXO11 KO cells, this time targeting genes that encode epigenetic modifiers. This screen revealed that inactivation of several genes of the polycomb repressor system partially rescues the erythroid differentiation defect in a manner similar to that seen for BAHD1 inactivation. Furthermore, the authors demonstrated protein-protein interactions between the polycomb factor EZH2 and BAHD1. Collectively, their work provides significant new insight into how the transition from progenitors to terminal erythroid differentiation is regulated (see figure).