SETD2: an epigenetic modifier with tumor suppressor functionality

Jun Li, Gerben Duns, Helga Westers, Rolf Sijmons, Anke van den Berg, Klaas Kok*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

119 Citations (Scopus)
302 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In the past decade important progress has been made in our understanding of the epigenetic regulatory machinery. It has become clear that genetic aberrations in multiple epigenetic modifier proteins are associated with various types of cancer. Moreover, targeting the epigenome has emerged as a novel tool to treat cancer patients. Recently, the first drugs have been reported that specifically target SETD2-negative tumors. In this review we discuss the studies on the associated protein, Set domain containing 2 (SETD2), a histone modifier for which mutations have only recently been associated with cancer development. Our review starts with the structural characteristics of SETD2 and extends to its corresponding function by combining studies on SETD2 function in yeast, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, mice, and humans. SETD2 is now generally known as the single human gene responsible for trimethylation of lysine 36 of Histone H3 (H3K36). H3K36me3 readers that recruit protein complexes to carry out specific processes, including transcription elongation, RNA processing, and DNA repair, determine the impact of this histone modification. Finally, we describe the prevalence of SETD2-inactivating mutations in cancer, with the highest frequency in clear cell Renal Cell Cancer, and explore how SETD2-inactivation might contribute to tumor development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50719-50734
Number of pages16
JournalOncotarget
Volume7
Issue number31
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2-Aug-2016

Keywords

  • SETD2
  • H3K36me3
  • ccRCC
  • histone modification
  • tumor suppresor gene
  • RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA
  • RNA-POLYMERASE-II
  • HISTONE H3K36 METHYLATION
  • DNA MISMATCH REPAIR
  • WW DOMAIN
  • PWWP DOMAIN
  • LYSINE 36
  • TRANSCRIPTION ELONGATION
  • STRUCTURAL BASIS
  • MOLECULAR-BASIS

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