Cited by 312Genomics and Chromatin DynamicsCancer-related Molecular PathwaysChromatin Remodeling and Cancer

Target gene-independent functions of MYC oncoproteins

Open access
Baluapuri, Apoorva, Wolf, Elmar, Eilers, Martin·2020·Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Abstract

Oncoproteins of the MYC family are major drivers of human tumorigenesis. Since a large body of evidence indicates that MYC proteins are transcription factors, studying their function has focused on the biology of their target genes. Detailed studies of MYC-dependent changes in RNA levels have provided contrasting models of the oncogenic activity of MYC proteins through either enhancing or repressing the expression of specific target genes, or as global amplifiers of transcription. In this Review, we first summarize the biochemistry of MYC proteins and what is known (or is unclear) about the MYC target genes. We then discuss recent progress in defining the interactomes of MYC and MYCN and how this information affects central concepts of MYC biology, focusing on mechanisms by which MYC proteins modulate transcription. MYC proteins promote transcription termination upon stalling of RNA polymerase II, and we propose that this mechanism enhances the stress resilience of basal transcription. Furthermore, MYC proteins coordinate transcription elongation with DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Finally, we argue that the mechanism by which MYC proteins regulate the transcription machinery is likely to promote tumorigenesis independently of global or relative changes in the expression of their target genes.

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  • Myc proteins play a critical role in pathways related to tumor development, including proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, metabolism, and adaptive cancer resistance.

    “Myc proteins, synthesized after transcription and translation of Myc gene, plays a critical role in pathways related to tumor development, including proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, metabolism, and adaptive cancer resistance.412–414”

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  1. [56]Herold S Negative regulation of the mammalian UV response by Myc through association with Miz-1 Mol Cell 2002 10 509 521 12408820

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Authors
Baluapuri, A., Wolf, E., & Eilers, M.
Affiliations
University of Würzburg (DE)
Corresponding author
Eilers, Martin
Venue
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Published
2020-02-18
Volume
21
Issue
5
Pages
255-267
ISSN
  • 1471-0072 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0080
OpenAlex
W3007097494
Cited by
310
References
130
Citations by year
2026: 29 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 9
FWCI
4.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer
Keywords
Myc oncoprotein, MYCN, transcription factors, target genes, RNA polymerase II stalling, transcription termination, transcription elongation, DNA replication, cell cycle progression, stress resilience, basal transcription, carcinogenesis, protein-protein interaction network, transcriptional regulation
MeSH terms
N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein, Cell Cycle, DNA Replication, Humans, Neoplasms, Transcription Factors, Transcription, Genetic, Oncogene Proteins, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, Cell Proliferation, Carcinogenesis

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