title: Gene transcription through Myc family members in eukaryotic cells.
abstract: c-Myc family proteins, encoded by c-myc family proto-oncogenes, play critical roles in mechanisms associated with proliferation, differentiation and apoptotic death in eukaryotic cells. These functions are mediated by transcriptional activity of these proteins through binding to the E-box core sequence CACGTG referred to as a Myc core element located at a promoter or enhancer region of the individual target genes in the nucleus. Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of novel nuclear proteins that specifically recognize a Myc core element, in addition to c-Myc, Max, Mad and Mxi1. On the other hand, a Myc core element has alternating purine/pyrimidine repeats which could undergo a conformational transition from right-handed (B-DNA) to left-handed (Z-DNA) forms in the presence of a high concentration of salts such as Mg2+ and polyamines. Similarly, a Myc element has a homopurine-homopyrimidine site that may take a triplex configuration in particular situations. We have searched for nuclear proteins that can specifically recognize a Myc core element in different topological variations in murine brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuramoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoneda
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D006801:Humans; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc