Myc

Myc is a family of <a href="/facts/Regulator_gene/oH86M9nI">regulator genes</a> and <a href="/facts/Proto-oncogene/WLFu6Ma5">proto-oncogenes</a> that <a href="/facts/Genetic_code/zUK0bY1B">code</a> for <a href="/facts/Transcription_factor/wro0DPHe">transcription factors</a>. The Myc family consists of three related human genes: c-myc (<a href="/facts/MYC/flCuvM48">MYC</a>), l-myc (<a href="/facts/MYCL/nMhGR6dt">MYCL</a>), and n-myc (<a href="/facts/N-Myc/0B3u0h9p">MYCN</a>). c-myc (also sometimes referred to as MYC) was the first gene to be discovered in this family, due to homology with the viral gene v-myc.
In <a href="/facts/Cancer/PVW6n1D0">cancer</a>, c-myc is often <a href="/facts/Glossary_of_gene_expression_terms/N9yVF3lR">constitutively</a> (persistently) expressed. This leads to the increased expression of many genes, some of which are involved in <a href="/facts/Cell_proliferation/Jp3hWo2t">cell proliferation</a>, contributing to the formation of cancer. A common human <a href="/facts/Chromosomal_translocation/MKEwqpQw">translocation</a> involving c-myc is critical to the development of most cases of <a href="/facts/Burkitt_lymphoma/Ita1VmGg">Burkitt lymphoma</a>. Constitutive upregulation of Myc genes have also been observed in carcinoma of the cervix, colon, breast, lung and stomach.
Myc is thus viewed as a promising target for anti-cancer drugs. Unfortunately, Myc possesses several features that have rendered it difficult to drug to date, such that any anti-cancer drugs aimed at inhibiting Myc may continue to require perturbing the protein indirectly, such as by targeting the <a href="/facts/MRNA/oUL6qxQn">mRNA</a> for the protein rather than via a <a href="/facts/Small_molecule/kbwq3VBn">small molecule</a> that targets the protein itself.
c-Myc also plays an important role in <a href="/facts/Stem_cell/qgB9dFrI">stem cell</a> biology and was one of the original <a href="/facts/Yamanaka_factors/oqMTMwsc">Yamanaka factors</a> used to <a href="/facts/Cellular_reprogramming/N9yVF3lR">reprogram</a> <a href="/facts/Somatic_cells/Emn7gk9A">somatic cells</a> into <a href="/facts/Induced_pluripotent_stem_cells/bGItax29">induced pluripotent stem cells</a>.
In the <a href="/facts/Human_genome/VTV85pbn">human genome</a>, C-myc is located on <a href="/facts/Chromosome_8_(human)/lHe695JV">chromosome 8</a> and is believed to regulate expression of 15% of all genes through binding on enhancer box sequences (<a href="/facts/E-box/Kme7EgfY">E-boxes</a>).
In addition to its role as a classical transcription factor, N-myc may recruit <a href="/facts/Histone_acetyltransferase/gIzJY5fn">histone acetyltransferases</a> (HATs). This allows it to regulate global chromatin structure via histone acetylation.

Myc open-in-new

Myc