Menin–Mixed lineage leukemia 1 protein interaction (Menin–MLL interaction)

The menin–MLL interaction is a protein–protein interface critical for the function of wild-type and fusion forms of mixed lineage leukemia 1 protein (MLL1/KMT2A). Menin, an adapter protein encoded by MEN1, binds to an N-terminal region of MLL1 and related MLL fusion proteins, helping recruit the histone methyltransferase complex to target gene loci—especially key homeobox genes driving hematopoietic cell fate. In MLL-rearranged leukemias, this interaction is essential for the maintenance of aberrant gene expression programs. Disrupting the menin–MLL interaction with small-molecule inhibitors has become a leading therapeutic strategy in these leukemia subtypes, with several compounds in clinical or preclinical development[1][2][3][4]. This target is well-characterized and highly validated in oncology drug discovery as a disease-driving protein–protein interaction.

Other names

Menin–MLL1 interactionMEN1–KMT2A interactionMenin–KMT2A interactionMenin–MLL fusion protein interaction

Inhibition of menin–MLL interaction, which disrupts MLL-fusion-driven transcriptional programs critical for leukemic cell proliferation and survival[1][4]