title: Small-molecule modulators of c-Myc/Max and Max/Max interactions.
abstract: The transcription factor c-Myc is overexpressed in many tumors in human beings and has been identified as a highly promising target for cancer therapy. Most biological functions of c-Myc require heterodimerization with its activation partner Max. Inhibition of the protein-protein interactions between c-Myc and Max by small molecules has been shown to be a feasible and powerful approach toward the inhibition of c-Myc functions. More recently, stabilization of Max homodimers to reduce the amount of Max available for activating c-Myc has also been demonstrated to counteract Myc activity. This review summarizes our current knowledge on small organic molecules that inhibit c-Myc by modulating protein-protein interactions relevant for the biological function of this important oncoprotein.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, Leipzig, Germany. tberg@uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000187:drug effects; D055550:Protein Stability / Q000187:drug effects; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc