The myc gene family proteins and their role in transformation and differentiation.
Several genes within the mammalian genome share homology with the transforming gene, v-myc, of the avian myelocytic leukemia viruses. Of these, c-myc, Nmyc and Lmyc have been shown to possess transforming activity in vitro and each is found to be aberrantly expressed in a variety of tumours. In normal tissues, expression of Nmyc and Lmyc is restricted to embryonic development and a few adult tissues whereas c-myc and Bmyc are very widely expressed. The proteins encoded by the various myc genes share substantial sequence homology. c-, N and Lmyc proteins are all nuclear phosphoproteins that possess very short biological half lives and bind DNA. All three possess identifiable motifs present in a number of other nuclear proteins involved in transcriptional regulation, and the possible role of myc proteins in gene regulation is discussed. Some experiments, however, favour a different role for c-myc, in DNA replication. Whatever their precise molecular functions may be, it is clear that myc genes play an essential role in the regulation of cellular proliferation.
Ingvarsson
S
S
Department of Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000502:physiology*
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc