Zhang, JiangwenJackson, Audrey F.Naito, TakuDose, MareiSeavitt, JohnLiu, FeifeiHeller, Elizabeth J.Kashiwagi, MarikoYoshida, ToshimiGounari, FotiniPetrie, Howard T.Georgopoulos, Katia2014-03-112013Zhang, J., A. F. Jackson, T. Naito, M. Dose, J. Seavitt, F. Liu, E. J. Heller, et al. 2013. “Harnessing of the Nucleosome Remodeling Deacetylase complex controls lymphocyte development and prevents leukemogenesis.” Nature immunology 13 (1): 10.1038/ni.2150. doi:10.1038/ni.2150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ni.2150.1529-2908http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11879386Cell fate decisions depend on the interplay between chromatin regulators and transcription factors. Here we show that activity of the Mi-2β nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex was controlled by the Ikaros family of lymphoid-lineage determining proteins. Ikaros, an integral component of the NuRD complex in lymphocytes, tethered this complex to active lymphoid differentiation genes. Loss in Ikaros DNA binding activity caused a local increase in Mi-2β chromatin remodeling and histone deacetylation and suppression of lymphoid gene expression. The NuRD complex also redistributed to transcriptionally poised non-Ikaros gene targets, involved in proliferation and metabolism, inducing their reactivation. Thus, release of NuRD from Ikaros regulation blocks lymphocyte maturation and mediates progression to a leukemic state by engaging functionally opposing epigenetic and genetic networks.en-USJournal Article2014-03-1110.1038/ni.2150