Skip to main content
Log in

Somatic mutations of the histone methyltransferase gene EZH2 in myelodysplastic syndromes

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:

From Nature Genetics

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

In myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), deletions of chromosome 7 or 7q are common and correlate with a poor prognosis. The relevant genes on chromosome 7 are unknown. We report here that EZH2, located at 7q36.1, is frequently targeted in MDS. Analysis of EZH2 deletions, missense and frameshift mutations strongly suggests that EZH2 is a tumor suppressor. As EZH2 functions as a histone methyltransferase, abnormal histone modification may contribute to epigenetic deregulation in MDS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1: EZH2 is recurrently affected in individuals with MDS.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brunning, R.D. et al. in WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues (eds. Swerdlow, S.H. et al.) 87–104 (World Health Organization, Geneva, 2008).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Haase, D. et al. Blood 110, 4385–4395 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Langemeijer, S.M.C. et al. Nat. Genet. 41, 838–842 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Delhommeau, F. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 2289–2301 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Den Dunnen, J.T. & Antonarakis, S.E. Hum. Genet. 109, 121–124 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Tahiliani, M. et al. Science 324, 930–935 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cao, R. et al. Science 298, 1039–1043 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kuzmichev, A., Nishioka, K., Erdjument-Bromage, H., Tempst, P. & Reinberg, D. Genes Dev. 16, 2893–2905 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Czermin, B. et al. Cell 111, 185–196 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Muller, J. et al. Cell 111, 197–208 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Morin, R.D. et al. Nat. Genet. 42, 181–185 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Classen, A.K., Bunker, B.D., Harvey, K.F., Vaccari, T. & Bilder, D. Nat. Genet. 41, 1150–1155 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Martinez, A.M. et al. Nat. Genet. 41, 1076–1082 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Simon, J.A. & Lange, C.A. Mutat. Res. 647, 21–29 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank R. Woestenenk and E. Kamping for technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO, 92003420) and the Stichting Vanderes (07-183). P.V. is a clinical investigator of Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

G.N., S.M.C.L., R.P.K., T.d.W., B.A.v.d.R. and J.H.J. designed the experiments. G.N., S.M.C.L., R.K., M.M., E.R.L.T.M.T., A.v.d.H., T.N.S., P.V. and T.d.W. provided subject material and clinical data. S.M.C.L. and R.P.K. performed and analyzed the SNP arrays. G.N., E.R.L.T.M.T., M.M., A.v.d.H. and T.N.S. performed sequence analysis and allelic discrimination assays. G.N. and J.H.J. wrote the paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joop H Jansen.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Text and Figures

Supplementary Figures 1–8, Supplementary Tables 1–3 and Supplementary Methods (PDF 1545 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nikoloski, G., Langemeijer, S., Kuiper, R. et al. Somatic mutations of the histone methyltransferase gene EZH2 in myelodysplastic syndromes. Nat Genet 42, 665–667 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.620

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.620

  • Springer Nature America, Inc.

This article is cited by

Navigation