Bromodomain Containing Protein 1 (BRD1)

The MLL is reciprocally translocated with 1 of a number of different partner genes in human acute leukemias. The precise mechanism of oncogenic transformation is unclear since most of the partner genes encode unrelated proteins. However, 2 partner genes, AF10 and AF17, are related through the presence of a cysteine-rich region and a leucine zipper.

Overall, the protein was most closely related to the BR140 protein , and was therefore designated BRL (BR140-like gene). Northern blot analysis revealed that a 4.6-kb BRL transcript is expressed at high levels in testis and in several cell lines. A monoclonal antibody raised to a BRL peptide sequence confirmed its widespread expression as a 120-kD protein and demonstrated localization to the nucleus of spermatocytes.