title: Identification of c-MYC as a target of the APC pathway.
abstract: The adenomatous polyposis coli gene (APC) is a tumor suppressor gene that is inactivated in most colorectal cancers. Mutations of APC cause aberrant accumulation of beta-catenin, which then binds T cell factor-4 (Tcf-4), causing increased transcriptional activation of unknown genes. Here, the c-MYC oncogene is identified as a target gene in this signaling pathway. Expression of c-MYC was shown to be repressed by wild-type APC and activated by beta-catenin, and these effects were mediated through Tcf-4 binding sites in the c-MYC promoter. These results provide a molecular framework for understanding the previously enigmatic overexpression of c-MYC in colorectal cancers.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, 424 North Bond Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rago
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hermeking
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zawel
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vogelstein
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kinzler
mesh_terms: D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017491:Genes, APC; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D016259:Genes, myc; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D058118:Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors; C544894:TCF7L2 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D058118:Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051176:beta Catenin