# Discovery of small molecules targeting the histone acetylation reader ENL

> **NIH NIH R01** · VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2022 · $439,725

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements account for approximately 80% of infant acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 35-50% of infant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients bearing
rearrangements of the MLL gene are associated with dismal prognosis and particularly poor response to
standard treatments. Up-to-date, effective therapies for this subtype of fatal disease are still lacking.
Molecularly, inter-chromosomal translocations of MLL lead to in frame fusions of the N-terminus of MLL to the
C-terminus of various fusion partners, which are known as the “driver” lesions of the diseases. Among more
than 70 MLL fusion partners, a small subset of fusions account for most leukemogenic cases. In ALL, over 90%
MLL rearrangements involve only four fusion partners: AFF1, AF9, ENL, and AF10, all are components of the
super elongation complex (SEC) or the complex of the histone H3K79 methyltransferase DOT1L. It is believed
that these MLL fusions share a common pathway by “hijacking” SEC or the DOT1L complex to promote
aberrant activation of the target genes of MLL fusions, leading to the pathogenesis of leukemias.
Studies from the applicant and others have demonstrated that ENL, a stoichiometric component of SEC and
the DOT1L complex, is critical for the oncogenic function of the MLL-fusions. ENL contains an evolutionally
conserved YEATS domain. The applicant found that the YEATS domain of ENL functions as a reader of
histone acetylation (Cell, 2014, 159:558-71). Importantly, the acetylation reading function of the YEATS
domain is essential for growth and survival of the MLL-rearranged leukemic cells (Nature, 2017, 543:265-269).
These key findings provide the proof of concept that targeting the YEATS domain of ENL is a potentially
valuable therapeutic option in treatment of MLL-rearranged leukemias.
The goal of this proposal within the scope of this FOA is to develop potent and selective inhibitors of the ENL
YEATS domain. The specific aims of the proposal are to (1) conduct a high-throughput screening for ENL
small-molecule inhibitors; (2) validate and evaluate candidate hits by orthogonal assays; and (3) characterize
hits in cell-based assays. The inhibitors obtained from the proposed study will serve as tool compounds to
study the functions and mechanisms of ENL in promoting MLL-fusion proteins in gene regulation and disease
maintenance. These compounds will also provide the basis for further development of small molecules for
targeted therapies of MLL-translocated leukemias. Preclinical studies suggest that BET inhibitors exhibit limited
efficacy as single agents. Selective and potent ENL inhibitors provided by this project will be an important tool
to test the synergistic effect of ENL and BET inhibitions, providing an innovative therapeutic strategy for the
treatment of MLL-rearranged leukemias.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10311523
- **Project number:** 5R01CA255506-02
- **Recipient organization:** VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Hong Wen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $439,725
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-12-15 → 2024-12-01

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10311523

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10311523, Discovery of small molecules targeting the histone acetylation reader ENL (5R01CA255506-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10311523. Licensed CC0.

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