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The basic region/helix – loop – helix/leucine zipper domain of Myc proto-oncoproteins: Function and regulation

Oncogene volume 18, pages 2955–2966 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

A large body of evidence has been accumulated that demonstrates dominant effects of Myc proto-oncoproteins on different aspects of cellular growth. Myc is one of the few proteins that is sufficient to drive resting cells into the cell cycle and promote DNA synthesis. In line with this finding is that the constitutive expression of Myc in cells blocks their differentiation. These growth stimulating properties are most likely responsible for Myc's ability to initiate and promote tumor formation. Interestingly Myc can also sensitize cells to apoptosis, suggesting that this protein is part of a life-and-death switch. Molecularly Myc functions as a transcriptional regulator that needs to heterodimerize with Max to exert the biological activities described above and to regulate gene transcription. Myc and Max are just two members of a growing family of proteins referred to as the Myc/Max/Mad network. A hallmark of these proteins is that they possess a C-terminal basic region/helix – loop – helix/leucine zipper domain (bHLHZip). The bHLHZip domain specifies dimerization within the network and determines sequence specific DNA binding. Importantly this domain together with the N-terminal transactivation domain is essential for Myc biology. Here we have summarized the structural, functional, and regulatory aspects of the bHLHZip domain of Myc proteins.

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Acknowledgements

The work in our laboratories is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (B Lüscher) and by the Swedish Cancer Society, the Children Cancer Foundation of Sweden, the Lovisa & Thielman, the Selander and the Wiberg Foundations (L-G Larsson).

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  1. Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, Hannover, 30623, Germany

    Bernhard Lüscher

  2. Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala Genetic Center, Box 7080, SLU, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden

    Lars-Gunnar Larsson

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Correspondence to Bernhard Lüscher.

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Lüscher, B., Larsson, LG. The basic region/helix – loop – helix/leucine zipper domain of Myc proto-oncoproteins: Function and regulation. Oncogene 18, 2955–2966 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1202750

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