title: Strong transcriptional activation of translocated c-myc genes occurs without a strong nearby enhancer or promoter.
abstract: We have studied the transcriptional activation of translocated c-myc genes in murine plasmacytomas in which the translocation juncture occurs within the first intron of c-myc and juxtaposes c-myc with the immunoglobulin C alpha gene segment. It has been widely suggested that a novel transcriptional enhancer element located near the C alpha gene segment might activate the translocated c-myc gene. We have carried out an extensive search for such an element and find no significant transcriptional enhancer activity in a 22 kb region encompassing the translocation junction, C alpha gene segment and regions 3' of C alpha. We also find that the cryptic promoter region of the translocated c-myc gene is a very weak promoter of transcription. Despite this evidence against the presence of strong transcriptional regulatory elements, the translocated c-myc gene locus is transcribed at high rates that are 25-greater than 100% of that measured for the highly active immunoglobulin genes in murine plasmacytomas. These data suggest the presence of a novel type of strong activator of transcription in the murine heavy chain locus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kakkis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercola
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Calame
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes