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Analysis of genomic targets reveals complex functions of MYC

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 4, pages 562–568 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

MYC is overexpressed by many human tumour types and has been shown to regulate cell functions that are required for tumorigenesis. It is not clear, however, which of its target genes mediate these effects. A series of recent studies have indicated that this could be a result of the fact that MYC binds and regulates up to 15% of all genes. Does MYC function as a widespread regulator of transcription or as a classical transcription factor that regulates a limited number of downstream targets?

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Figure 1: The MAX network.
Figure 2: The MYC, p53 and E2F effector pathways.

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Acknowledgements

The following individuals provided helpful comments during the preparation of this review: M. Cole, C. Dang, S. Sykes and A. Norvell. This work was supported by grants to S.B.M. from the National Institutes of Health. In addition, this work was partially supported by funds from the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program, Pennsylvania Department of Health. Finally, we would like to add that many other groups have contributed data that were crucial to our current discussion of MYC function. Due to space limitations, these important contributions could not be highlighted in this review.

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  1. The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, 19104, USA

    Jagruti H. Patel, Andrey P. Loboda, Michael K. Showe, Louise C. Showe & Steven B. McMahon

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Correspondence to Steven B. McMahon.

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Related links

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DATABASES

Cancer.gov

acute myeloid leukaemia

Entrez Gene

CDKN1A

cyclin D2

lactate dehydrogenase

MAD

MAX

MNT

MYC

NOXA

p53

PUMA

RCL

serine hydroxymethyltransferase 1

OMIM

Burkitt's lymphoma

FURTHER INFORMATION

MYC cancer gene database

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Patel, J., Loboda, A., Showe, M. et al. Analysis of genomic targets reveals complex functions of MYC. Nat Rev Cancer 4, 562–568 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc1393

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