Functional analysis of the leukemia protein ELL: Evidence for a role in the regulation of cell growth and survival

Abstract

The ELL gene encodes an RNA polymerase II transcription factor that frequently undergoes translocation with the MLL gene in acute human myeloid leukemia. Here, we report that ELL can regulate cell proliferation and survival. In order to better understand the physiological role of the ELL protein, we have developed an ELL-inducible cell line. Cells expressing ELL were uniformly inhibited for growth by a loss of the G1 population and an increase in the G2/M population. This decrease in cell growth is followed by the condensation of chromosomal DNA, activation of caspase 3, poly(ADP ribose) polymerase cleavage, and an increase in sub-G1 population, which are all indicators of the process of pro..