Primary Citation of Related Structures: 7XNX, 7XNY
PubMed Abstract:
The development and regulation of malignant self-renewal remain unresolved issues. Here, we provide biochemical, genetic, and functional evidence that dynamics in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) 2'-O-methylation regulate leukemia stem cell (LSC) activity in vivo. A comprehensive analysis of the rRNA 2'-O-methylation landscape of 94 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) revealed dynamic 2'-O-methylation specifically at exterior sites of ribosomes. The rRNA 2'-O-methylation pattern is closely associated with AML development stage and LSC gene expression signature. Forced expression of the 2'-O-methyltransferase fibrillarin (FBL) induced an AML stem cell phenotype and enabled engraftment of non-LSC leukemia cells in NSG mice. Enhanced 2'-O-methylation redirected the ribosome translation program toward amino acid transporter mRNAs enriched in optimal codons and subsequently increased intracellular amino acid levels. Methylation at the single site 18S-guanosine 1447 was instrumental for LSC activity. Collectively, our work demonstrates that dynamic 2'-O-methylation at specific sites on rRNAs shifts translational preferences and controls AML LSC self-renewal. We establish the complete rRNA 2'-O-methylation landscape in human AML. Plasticity of rRNA 2'-O-methylation shifts protein translation toward an LSC phenotype. This dynamic process constitutes a novel concept of how cancers reprogram cell fate and function. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 247.
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine V, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit EMBL-UKHD, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
Heidelberg Institute of Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany.
Gene Center, Department of Biochemistry, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Research Unit Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Stem Cells (AHS), Helmholtz Center Munich, German Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.
Division of Proteomics of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
Medical Department 1, University Hospital Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Department of Medicine II, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
Division of Mechanisms Regulating Gene Expression, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany.
National Center for Tumor Diseases, NCT Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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