Identification of novel targets of MYC whose transcription requires the essential MbII domain.

The MYC oncoprotein is among the most potent regulators of cell cycle progression and malignant transformation in human cells. Current models suggest that much of MYC's role in these processes is related to its ability to regulate the transcription of downstream target genes that encode the ultimate effector proteins. In addition to its carboxy-terminal DNA binding and dimerization domains, an enigmatic motif in the amino terminus termed MbII is required for all of MYC's biological activities.

Metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) is an essential downstream effector of the c-MYC oncoprotein.

The c-myc oncogene is among the most commonly overexpressed genes in human cancer. c-myc encodes a basic helix-loop-helix/leucine zipper (bHLH/LZ) transcription factor (c-MYC) that activates a cascade of downstream targets that ultimately mediate cellular transformation. Although a large number of genes are regulated by c-MYC, only a few have been functionally linked to c-MYC-mediated transformation.