Background
TLEs associate with chromatin in live cells and specifically with Histone H3, but not with other core histones. Expression of the TLE genes, TLE1, TLE2, TLE3 and TLE4, correlate with immature epithelial cells that are progressing toward a terminally differentiated state, suggesting a role during epithelial differentiation. TLE1, TLE2 and TLE3 have elevated expression in cervial squamous metaplasias and carcinomas, while TLE4 is most highly expressed in the brain, particularly in the caudate nucleus. TLE1 and TLE4 contain SP and WD40 domains, through which TLE1 binds AML1 to inhibit AML1-induced transactivation of the CSF1 receptor. In early stages of cell differentiation, TLE1 is up-regulated, and TLE2 and TLE4 are down-regulated.