To separate causal effects of histone acetylation on chromatin accessibility and transcriptional output, we used integrated epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses following acute inhibition of major cellular lysine acetyltransferases P300 and CBP in hematological malignancies. We found that catalytic P300/CBP inhibition dynamically perturbs steady-state acetylation kinetics and suppresses oncogenic transcriptional networks in the absence of changes to chromatin accessibility. CRISPR-Cas9 screening identified NCOR1 and HDAC3 transcriptional co-repressors as the principal antagonists of P300/CBP by counteracting acetylation turnover kinetics. Finally, deacetylation of H3K27 provides nucleation sites for reciprocal methylation switching, a feature that can be exploited therapeutically by concomitant KDM6A and P300/CBP inhibition. Overall, this study indicates that the steady-state histone acetylation-methylation equilibrium functions as a molecular rheostat governing cellular transcription that is amenable to therapeutic exploitation as an anti-cancer regimen.
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Heavy chain diseases (HCDs) are rare B cell lymphoplasma cell proliferative disorders that are characterized by the production of incomplete monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chains without the associated light chains. γ-HCD (IgG subtype) is a rare subtype, with ~150 cases reported in the literature to date; however, to the best of our knowledge, no reports of T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement in γ-HCD exist in the literature. The present study reports the case of an 81-year-old man with γ-heavy chain disease associated with TCR gene rearrangement, identified in lymph node biopsy and bone marrow aspirate specimens. The present case revealed an alternative manifestation of γ-HCD, which may provide additional biological insights into this rare B cell disorder.