HOX11 is a homeodomain transcription factor that has been implicated in leukaemic transformation associated with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL). Its role in leukaemogenesis remains enigmatic, nevertheless, in vitro and in vivo studies have provided additional evidence supporting the role of HOX11 as an oncogene. The mechanism by which HOX11 transforms cells is yet to be elucidated, however, HOX11 has been postulated to function by binding regulatory elements within the promoter regions of specific target genes in order to control gene transcription. The identification of transcriptional targets is thus thought to be critical to our understanding of the pathways controlled by this master gene regulator. To date, only three candidate HOX11 target genes have been reported and given that HOX11 overexpression can have a profound impact on cell behaviour, it is likely that many more exist. In this study, we sought to further understand the role of HOX11 in tumorigenesis by: 1) The identification of novel putative HOX11 target genes by profiling gene expression in response to HOX11 in a number of cell lines using a combination of RDA, cDNA microarray and GeneChip approaches and 2) confirming target gene status by assessing whether the proximal promoters of the leading candidates identified are transcriptionally regulated by HOX11. To identify genes whose expression was altered by HOX11, three techniques were employed, namely representational difference analysis, cDNA microarray and Affymetrix GeneChip array. Because of the relative novelty of these technologies, all three methods were employed in a complementary manner. While representational difference analysis did not require dedicated equipment and enabled the identification of novel genes, the technique was labour-intensive and also exhibited a number of problems including high levels of background. Emphasis was therefore placed on the more systematic microarray approaches that enabled a global investigation of expression patterns and thus the identification of a range of candidate target genes. Initially, this involved cDNA microarray experiments, however, during the course of this work Affymetrix GeneChip technology became available. The latter was identified as the most appropriate technology for the identification of candidate target genes because of its relative ease of use, as well as its employment of multiple independent probe pairs which greatly improved background noise, increased the range and accuracy of detection, minimized the effects of cross hybridization and drastically reduced the rate of false positives and miscalls. Using these combined approaches, several genes of interest were identified which were differentially regulated in the presence of HOX11 and thus may represent oncogenically or physiologically relevant target genes. These included OSTEOPONTIN, PAG, GUANOSINE DIPHOSPHATE DISSOCIATION INHIBITOR 3, SUR8, GAS3, C-KIT, VEGFC, NOR1 and SMARCD3. In order to confirm their role as target genes, four candidates (C-KIT, VEGFC, NOR1 and SMARCD3) were characterized in terms of the ability of their proximal promoters to be transcriptionally regulated by HOX11 using luciferase reporter assays. Significant repression of the proximal promoters of C-KIT and VEGFC by HOX11 was observed, which provided further evidence for their status as target genes. This repression was, however, in stark contrast to the transcriptional activation seen when the C-KIT and VEGFC proximal promoters were co-transfected with a HOX11 mutant lacking the third helix of the DNA-binding homeodomain. This unexpected finding suggested that the transcriptional activity of HOX11 is complex and highly context-dependent, and in particular, highlighted the importance of an intact homeodomain for HOX11 function. C-KIT and VEGFC are both involved in tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways, as a receptor tyrosine kinase and tyrosine kinase ligand, respectively. C-KIT plays an important role in the survival and self-renewal of haematopoietic cells. It is a previously identified and relatively well characterized oncogene known to be regulated by other transcription factors (SCL/TAL1 and LMO) implicated in the pathogenesis of T-ALL. VEGFC is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family that functions in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. A paracrine loop involving VEGFC and its receptor VEGFR-3 has previously been implicated in leukaemic cell survival. While further work is required in order to confirm the status of VEGFC and C-KIT as oncogenically-relevant HOX11 target genes and to characterize their exact mode of regulation, these findings implicate receptor tyrosine kinases in HOX11-mediated tumorigenesis and underscore their potential importance as therapeutic targets in haematological malignancies.

HOXll, the prototypical member of the HOXll family (HOX11, HOXllLl and HOXllL2) was originally discovered as a transcriptional regulator aberrantly expressed in tumours with an immature T-cell phenotype (T-ALL) as a result of specific chromosomal translocations involving T-cell receptor loci. Subsequently, it was revealed that HOXll is required for normal spleen development since newborn Hoxll-/- mice exhibit asplenia. In both its normal and abnormal roles, HOXll has been postulated to function by binding regulatory elements within specific target genes to control gene transcription. However, very few genomic targets of HOX11 have been identified and little is known about its mode of action. In this study, we sought to further understand the role of HOX11 in controlling differentiation and cell growth by 1) determining the identity of genomic sequences that are directly bound by HOXll and 2) determining the identity of proteins which exist within HOXll-containing nuclear complexes. To identify direct HOXll target sequences, a whole genome PCR-based screening method was employed using immobilised recombinant HOXll that had first been expressed as a biologically active GST fusion protein. Using this approach, restriction enzyme-cleaved human genomic DNA was selected for high-affinity HOXll binding sites. Unexpectedly, almost all clones isolated contained sequences derived from satellite 2 DNA that, together with related satellite 3 DNA, is found on most chromosomes at transcriptionally inactive pericentromeric heterochromatin. The specific binding of HOXl1 to satellite 2 DNA was verified by bandshift assays using both recombinant HOXll protein and nuclear extract derived from the T-ALL cell line, ALL-SIL. DNA-protein complexes containing HOX11 were identified by their ablation upon addition of HOXl1 antibody. To confirm that HOXll associates with pericentromeric heterochromatin in vivo, HOXll was characterised in terms of its nuclear localisation during interphase in unsynchronised leukaemic T-cells (ALL-SIL) harbouring a translocation involving the HOXll locus. Using indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, HOXll antibody produced a punctate pattern of staining in the nucleus with discrete areas of dense staining superimposed on a diffuse distribution of HOXll protein. By dual staining, the bright HOXll foci correlated with centromeres since they overlapped with signals detected by an antibody specific for the centromeric protein CENP-B. Further evidence for a direct interaction of HOXll with satellite 2 DNA was provided by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. In the presence of HOXll antibody, DNA fragments containing satellite 2 sequences were irnmunoprecipitated from sheared, cross-linked ALL-SIL chromatin but not from chromatin isolated from the HOXll-negative T-cell line PER-1 17. Finally, using a combination of immunoprecipitation with HOXll antibody, gel electrophoresis and mass peptide fingerprinting, a set of nuclear proteins were identified as potential HOXll interactors which are known to either localise to centromeric regions or act as regulators of gene expression. Together, these results implicate HOXl 1 in a functional interaction with centromeric heterochromatin, which may be a key feature of this oncoprotein in terms of both its T-cell transformation and transcriptional regulatory functions.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available online.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser. Med sammanfattning på svenska.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2003. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Health Sciences. Bibliography: leaves 177-201.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2006. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Science and Engineering. Bibliography: leaves 257-284.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available online.