MYC activation and BCL2L11 silencing by a tumour virus through the large-scale reconfiguration of enhancer-promoter hubs

• Published in: eLife 2016-08, Vol.5
• Main Authors: Wood, C David, Veenstra, Hildegonda, Khasnis, Sarika, Gunnell, Andrea, Webb, Helen M, Shannon-Lowe, Claire, Andrews, Simon, Osborne, Cameron S, West, Michelle J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine triphosphatase; Apoptosis; Bcl-2-Like Protein 11 - genetics; Bcl-2-Like Protein 11 - metabolism; BCL2L11; BIM protein; Breakpoints; BRG1 protein; Burkitt's lymphoma; Cancer Biology; Cell growth; Chromosomes; DNA Helicases - metabolism; EBNA-3C protein; EBNA2; EBNA3C; enhancer; Enhancers; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens - metabolism; Gene expression; Gene Silencing; Genes and Chromosomes; Genetic aspects; Genetic transcription; Genomes; Health aspects; Herpesvirus 4, Human - enzymology; Herpesvirus 4, Human - physiology; Kinases; Lymphoma; Lymphomas; Methyltransferase; MYC; Myc protein; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein Binding; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc - metabolism; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Repressors; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcriptional Activation; Tumor viruses; Tumors
• ISSN: 2050-084X; 2050-084X
• DOI: 10.7554/eLife.18270

Lymphomagenesis in the presence of deregulated MYC requires suppression of MYC-driven apoptosis, often through downregulation of the pro-apoptotic BCL2L11 gene (Bim). Transcription factors (EBNAs) encoded by the lymphoma-associated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activate MYC and silence BCL2L11. We show that the EBNA2 transactivator activates multiple MYC enhancers and reconfigures the MYC locus to increase upstream and decrease downstream enhancer-promoter interactions. EBNA2 recruits the BRG1 ATPase of the SWI/SNF remodeller to MYC enhancers and BRG1 is required for enhancer-promoter interactions in EBV-infected cells. At BCL2L11, we identify a haematopoietic enhancer hub that is inactivated by the EBV repressors EBNA3A and EBNA3C through recruitment of the H3K27 methyltransferase EZH2. Reversal of enhancer inactivation using an EZH2 inhibitor upregulates BCL2L11 and induces apoptosis. EBV therefore drives lymphomagenesis by hijacking long-range enhancer hubs and specific cellular co-factors. EBV-driven MYC enhancer activation may contribute to the genesis and localisation of MYC-Immunoglobulin translocation breakpoints in Burkitt's lymphoma.