The Mad side of the Max network: antagonizing the function of Myc and more

MYC Oncogene: A Druggable Target for Treating Cancers with Natural Products

Various diseases, including cancers, age-associated disorders, and acute liver failure, have been linked to the oncogene, MYC. Animal testing and clinical trials have shown that sustained tumor volume reduction can be achieved when MYC is inactivated, and different combinations of therapeutic agents including MYC inhibitors are currently being developed. In this review, we first provide a summary of the multiple biological functions of the MYC oncoprotein in cancer treatment, highlighting that the equilibrium points of the MYC/MAX, MIZ1/MYC/MAX, and MAD (MNT)/MAX complexes have further potential in cancer treatment that could be used to restrain MYC oncogene expression and its functions in tumorigenesis. We also discuss the multifunctional capacity of MYC in various cellular cancer processes, including its influences on immune response, metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis, multidrug resistance, and intestinal flora. Moreover, we summarize the MYC therapy patent landscape and emphasize the potential of MYC as a druggable target, using herbal medicine modulators. Finally, we describe pending challenges and future perspectives in biomedical research, involving the development of therapeutic approaches to modulate MYC or its targeted genes. Patients with cancers driven by MYC signaling may benefit from therapies targeting these pathways, which could delay cancerous growth and recover antitumor immune responses.

Transcription Factor Profiling Identifies Spatially Heterogenous Mediators of Follicular Thyroid Cancer Invasion

While minimally invasive follicular thyroid cancer (miFTC) generally has low risk of recurrence or death, encapsulated angioinvasive (eaFTC) or widely invasive (wiFTC) histological subtypes display significantly worse prognosis. Drivers of invasion are incompletely understood. Therefore, tissue samples including miFTC, eaFTC, and wiFTC tumors, as well as histologically normal thyroid adjacent to benign follicular adenomas, were selected from a cohort (n = 21) of thyroid tumor patients, and the gene expression of selected transcription factors was characterized with quantitative PCR. Invasion-relevant spatial expression patterns of selected transcription factors were subsequently characterized with immunohistochemistry. E2F1 was over-expressed in all 3 subtypes (p<0.01). SP1 was differentially expressed in eaFTC and wiFTC compared with normal (p=0.01 and 0.04, respectively). TCF7L2 was significantly upregulated in wiFTC specifically (p<0.05). While these findings were mRNA specific, immunohistochemistry of additional cancer-associated transcription factors revealed differential expression along the tumor invasive front relative to the central tumor, and histone acetylation modulators emerged as putative invasion markers. These findings may have significant implications for the interpretation of bulk gene expression analysis of thyroid tumor samples or for the development of targeted therapeutics for this rare but aggressive thyroid cancer variant.

Significant association between high serum CCL5 levels and better disease-free survival of patients with early breast cancer

Analysis of anticancer immunity aids in assessing the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. From 250 operated breast cancers, we focused on serum levels of C‐C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), which is involved in cancer immune reactions. Serum levels of CCL5 were measured using a cytometric bead‐based immunoassay kit and CCL5 expression in cancer cells was determined using immunohistochemical staining. In addition, mRNA in cancer and stromal cells was analyzed by microdissection and comparison with the public dataset. Disease‐free survival (DFS) of patients with high CCL5 levels (cut‐off, 13.87 ng/mL; n = 192) was significantly better than those with low CCL5 levels (n = 58; hazard ratio, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.10‐0.39; P < .0001). An improved overall survival was observed in patients with high CCL5 levels compared to those with low CCL5 levels (P = .024). On the contrary, high immunohistochemical expression of CCL5 in cancer cells was significantly associated with decreased DFS. As serum CCL5 levels did not correlate with CCL5 expression in cancer cells and the relative expression of mRNA CCL5 was elevated in stromal cells in relation to cancer cells, serum CCL5 might be derived not from cancer cells, but from stromal cells. Expression of CCL5 in serum, but not in cancer cells, might contribute to improved patient prognosis mediating through not only immune reaction, but through other mechanisms. Determination of circulating CCL5 levels could be useful for predicting patient prognosis.

Inhibition of cIAP1 as a strategy for targeting c-MYC-driven oncogenic activity

Protooncogene c-MYC, a master transcription factor, is a major driver of human tumorigenesis. Development of pharmacological agents for inhibiting c-MYC as an anticancer therapy has been a longstanding but elusive goal in the cancer field. E3 ubiquitin ligase cIAP1 has been shown to mediate the activation of c-MYC by destabilizing MAD1, a key antagonist of c-MYC. Here we developed a high-throughput assay for cIAP1 ubiquitination and identified D19, a small-molecule inhibitor of E3 ligase activity of cIAP1. We show that D19 binds to the RING domain of cIAP1 and inhibits the E3 ligase activity of cIAP1 by interfering with the dynamics of its interaction with E2. Blocking cIAP1 with D19 antagonizes c-MYC by stabilizing MAD1 protein in cells. Furthermore, we show that D19 and an improved analog (D19-14) promote c-MYC degradation and inhibit the oncogenic function of c-MYC in cells and xenograft animal models. In contrast, we show that activating E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of cIAP1 by Smac mimetics destabilizes MAD1, the antagonist of MYC, and increases the protein levels of c-MYC. Our study provides an interesting example using chemical biological approaches for determining distinct biological consequences from inhibiting vs. activating an E3 ubiquitin ligase and suggests a potential broad therapeutic strategy for targeting c-MYC in cancer treatment by pharmacologically modulating cIAP1 E3 ligase activity.

Mxi1-0 regulates the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells through extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)-dependent pathways

Mxi1 plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation. Mxi1-0, a Mxi1 isoform, has a different N-terminal amino acid sequence, intracellular location and expression profile from Mxi1. However, the precise role of Mxi1-0 in cell proliferation and the molecular mechanism underlying its function remain poorly understood. Here, we showed that Mxi1-0 suppression decreased the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) along with cell accumulation in the G2/M phase. Mxi1-0 suppression also significantly decreased the expression and secretion of interleukin (IL-8). Neutralizing IL-8 in conditioned medium (CM) from Mxi1-0-overexpressed HUVECs significantly eliminated CM-induced proliferation of HUVECs. In addition, Mxi1-0 suppression significantly decreased the activity of MAP kinase ERK1/2. Treatment of HUVECs with U0126, an ERK1/2 signaling inhibitor, attenuated autocrine production of IL-8 induced by Mxi1-0 overexpression. On the other hand, Mxi1-0 overexpression-induced IL-8 increased the level of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in HUVECs, and such increasing was diminished in cells incubated with CM, which neutralized with anti-IL-8 antibody. Taken together, our results suggest that Mxi1-0 regulates the growth of HUVECs via the IL-8 and ERK1/2 pathways, which apparently reciprocally activate each other.

MYC Deregulation in Primary Human Cancers

MYC regulates a complex biological program by transcriptionally activating and repressing its numerous target genes. As such, MYC is a master regulator of many processes, including cell cycle entry, ribosome biogenesis, and metabolism. In cancer, the activity of the MYC transcriptional network is frequently deregulated, contributing to the initiation and maintenance of disease. Deregulation often leads to constitutive overexpression of MYC, which can be achieved through gross genetic abnormalities, including copy number alterations, chromosomal translocations, increased enhancer activity, or through aberrant signal transduction leading to increased MYC transcription or increased MYC mRNA and protein stability. Herein, we summarize the frequency and modes of MYC deregulation and describe both well-established and more recent findings in a variety of cancer types. Notably, these studies have highlighted that with an increased appreciation for the basic mechanisms deregulating MYC in cancer, new therapeutic vulnerabilities can be discovered and potentially exploited for the inhibition of this potent oncogene in cancer.

TCP10L synergizes with MAD1 in transcriptional suppression and cell cycle arrest through mutual interaction

T-complex protein 10A homolog 2 (TCP10L) was previously demonstrated to be a potential tumor suppressor in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, little is known about the molecular mechanism. MAX dimerization protein 1 (MAD1) is a key transcription suppressor that is involved in regulating cell cycle progression and Myc-mediated cell transformation. In this study, we identified MAD1 as a novel TCP10L-interacting protein. The interaction depends on the leucine zipper domain of both TCP10L and MAD1. TCP10L, but not the interaction-deficient TCP10L mutant, synergizes with MAD1 in transcriptional repression, cell cycle G1 arrest and cell growth suppression. Mechanistic exploration further revealed that TCP10L is able to stabilize intracellular MAD1 protein level. Consistently, the MAD1-interaction-deficient TCP10L mutant exerts no effect on stabilizing the MAD1 protein. Taken together, our results strongly indicate that TCP10L stabilizes MAD1 protein level through direct interaction, and they cooperatively regulate cell cycle progression. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(6): 325-330]

Mitotic arrest deficient-like 1 is correlated with poor prognosis in small-cell lung cancer after surgical resection

Mitotic arrest deficient-like 1 (MAD1L1) whose dysfunction is associated with chromosomal instability plays a pathogenic role in a few human cancers. However, the status of MAD1L1 expression in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains unknown. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of MAD1L1 protein in 32 lymph node metastasis (LN-M) tissues and 88 primary SCLCs compared with 32 adjacent noncancerous tissues. The associations of MAD1L1 protein expression with the clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes in patients with SCLC were analyzed. The ratio of MAD1L1 positive expression was higher in primary SCLC tissues (39.8 %) and LN-M tissues (46.9 %) compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues (9.4 %). MAD1L1 positive expression was associated with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (P = 0.003), International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) stage (P = 0.004), tumor size (P = 0.015), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.014), and recurrence (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis suggested that MAD1L1 positive expression was an independent factor for overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) 2.002; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.065-3.763; P = 0.031) and recurrence-free survival (HR 2.263; 95 % CI 1.197-4.276; P = 0.012). To sum up, MAD1L1 positive expression may be associated with tumour progression and metastasis in SCLCs and may thus serve as a new biomarker for prognosis in these patients.

Myricetin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in gastric cancer cells

Myricetin is a flavonoid that is abundant in fruits and vegetables and has protective effects against cancer and diabetes. However, the mechanism of action of myricetin against gastric cancer (GC) is not fully understood. We researched myricetin on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle in GC HGC-27 and SGC7901 cells, to explore the underlying mechanism of action. Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assay, Western blotting, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis assay were used to evaluate the effects of myricetin on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and the cell cycle. To analyze the binding properties of ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) with myricetin, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis was performed. CCK8 assay showed that myricetin inhibited GC cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis showed that myricetin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in GC cells. Western blotting indicated that myricetin influenced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of GC cells by regulating related proteins. SPR analysis showed strong binding affinity of RSK2 and myricetin. Myricetin bound to RSK2, leading to increased expression of Mad1, and contributed to inhibition of HGC-27 and SGC7901 cell proliferation. Our results suggest the therapeutic potential of myricetin in GC.

Myricetin exerts anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, and pro-apoptotic effects on esophageal carcinoma EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2

Myricetin, a common dietary flavonoid, is widely distributed in fruits and vegetables and is used as a health food supplement based on its anti-tumor properties. However, the effect and mechanisms of myricetin in esophageal carcinoma are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated the effect of myricetin on the proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion of the esophageal carcinoma cell lines EC9706 and KYSE30 and explored the underlying mechanism and target protein(s) of myricetin. CCK-8 assay, transwell invasion assay, wound-healing assay, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis assay were used to evaluate the effects of myricetin on cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. Nude mouse tumor xenograft model was built to understand the interaction between myricetin and NTD RSK2. Pull-down assay was used to verify molecular mechanism. Myricetin inhibited proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis of EC9706 and KYSE30 cells. Moreover, myricetin was shown to bind RSK2 through the NH2-terminal kinase domain. Finally, myricetin inhibited EC9706 and KYSE30 cell proliferation through Mad1 and induced cell apoptosis via Bad. Myricetin inhibits the proliferation and invasion and induces apoptosis in EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2. Myricetin exerts anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, and pro-apoptotic effects on esophageal carcinoma EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2. Our results provide novel insight into myricetin as a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of esophageal carcinoma.

Sin3b interacts with Myc and decreases Myc levels

Myc expression is deregulated in many human cancers. A yeast two-hybrid screen has revealed that the transcriptional repressor Sin3b interacts with Myc protein. Endogenous Myc and Sin3b co-localize and interact in the nuclei of human and rat cells, as assessed by co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and proximity ligation assay. The interaction is Max-independent. A conserved Myc region (amino acids 186-203) is required for the interaction with Sin3 proteins. Histone deacetylase 1 is recruited to Myc-Sin3b complexes, and its deacetylase activity is required for the effects of Sin3b on Myc. Myc and Sin3a/b co-occupied many sites on the chromatin of human leukemia cells, although the presence of Sin3 was not associated with gene down-regulation. In leukemia cells and fibroblasts, Sin3b silencing led to Myc up-regulation, whereas Sin3b overexpression induced Myc deacetylation and degradation. An analysis of Sin3b expression in breast tumors revealed an association between low Sin3b expression and disease progression. The data suggest that Sin3b decreases Myc protein levels upon Myc deacetylation. As Sin3b is also required for transcriptional repression by Mxd-Max complexes, our results suggest that, at least in some cell types, Sin3b limits Myc activity through two complementary activities: Mxd-dependent gene repression and reduction of Myc levels.

Reverse engineering the neuroblastoma regulatory network uncovers MAX as one of the master regulators of tumor progression

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial tumor and a major cause of infant cancer mortality worldwide. Despite its importance, little is known about its molecular mechanisms. A striking feature of this tumor is its clinical heterogeneity. Possible outcomes range from aggressive invasion to other tissues, causing patient death, to spontaneous disease regression or differentiation into benign ganglioneuromas. Several efforts have been made in order to find tumor progression markers. In this work, we have reconstructed the neuroblastoma regulatory network using an information-theoretic approach in order to find genes involved in tumor progression and that could be used as outcome predictors or as therapeutic targets. We have queried the reconstructed neuroblastoma regulatory network using an aggressive neuroblastoma metastasis gene signature in order to find its master regulators (MRs). MRs expression profiles were then investigated in other neuroblastoma datasets so as to detect possible clinical significance. Our analysis pointed MAX as one of the MRs of neuroblastoma progression. We have found that higher MAX expression correlated with favorable patient outcomes. We have also found that MAX expression and protein levels were increased during neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells differentiation. We propose that MAX is involved in neuroblastoma progression, possibly increasing cell differentiation by means of regulating the availability of MYC:MAX heterodimers. This mechanism is consistent with the results found in our SH-SY5Y differentiation protocol, suggesting that MAX has a more central role in these cells differentiation than previously reported. Overexpression of MAX has been identified as anti-tumorigenic in other works, but, to our knowledge, this is the first time that the link between the expression of this gene and malignancy was verified under physiological conditions.

MicroRNA 22 regulates cell cycle length in cerebellar granular neuron precursors

During cerebellum development, Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-induced proliferation of cerebellar granular neuronal precursors (CGNPs) is potently inhibited by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). We have previously reported the upregulation of TIEG-1 and Mash1, two antimitotic factors that modulate MYCN transcription and N-Myc activity, in response to BMP2. To gain further insight into the BMP antimitotic mechanism, we used microRNA (miRNA) arrays to compare the miRNAs of CGNPs proliferating in response to Shh with those of CGNPs treated with Shh plus BMP2. The array analysis revealed that miRNA 11 (miR-22) levels significantly increased in cells treated with BMP2. Additionally, in P7 mouse cerebellum, miR-22 distribution mostly recapitulated the combination of BMP2 and BMP4 expression patterns. Accordingly, in CGNP cultures, miR-22 overexpression significantly reduced cell proliferation, whereas miR-22 suppression diminished BMP2 antiproliferative activity. In contrast to BMP2, miR-22 did not induce neural differentiation but instead significantly increased cell cycle length. Consistent with the central role played by N-myc on CGNP proliferation, Max was revealed as a direct target of miR-22, and miR-22 expression caused a significant reduction of Max protein levels and N-myc/Max-dependent promoter activity. Therefore, we conclude that, in addition to the previously described mechanisms, miR-22 plays a specific role on downstream BMPs through cerebellum growth.

Sensitivity of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells to TRAIL is augmented by loss of NF1 through modulation of MYC/MAD and is potentiated by curcumin through induction of ROS

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare aggressive form of sarcoma often associated with the tumor syndrome neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). We investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) on NF1 associated MPNST and determinants of TRAIL sensitivity. MPNST cell lines with complete neurofibromin deficiency were sensitive to apoptotic cell death induced by TRAIL whereas MPNST cells with retained neurofibromin expression or normal human Schwann cells were resistant. Increased sensitivity to TRAIL was associated with overexpression of death receptors, especially DR5. Re-expression of the GAP related domain of neurofibromin (NF1-GRD) suppressed DR5 expression and decreased sensitivity to TRAIL. We show that death receptor expression and TRAIL sensitivity critically depend on c-MYC and that c-MYC amounts are increased by MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways which are suppressed by neurofibromin. Furthermore PI3K/AKT signalling strongly suppresses the MYC-antagonist MAD1 which significantly contributes to TRAIL sensitivity. Re-expression of the NF1-GRD decreased c-MYC and increased MAD1 amounts suggesting that neurofibromin influences TRAIL sensitivity at least in part by modulating the MYC/MAX/MAD network. The phytochemical curcumin further increased the sensitivity of neurofibromin deficient MPNST cells to TRAIL. This was presumably mediated by ROS, as it correlated with increased ROS production, was blocked by N-acetylcysteine and mimicked by exogenous ROS.

African swine fever virus controls the host transcription and cellular machinery of protein synthesis

Throughout a viral infection, the infected cell reprograms the gene expression pattern in order to establish a satisfactory antiviral response. African swine fever virus (ASFV), like other complex DNA viruses, sets up a number of strategies to evade the host's defense systems, such as apoptosis, inflammation and immune responses. The capability of the virus to persist in its natural hosts and in domestic pigs, which recover from infection with less virulent isolates, suggests that the virus displays effective mechanisms to escape host defense systems. ASFV has been described to regulate the activation of several transcription factors, thus regulating the activation of specific target genes during ASFV infection. Whereas some reports have concerned about anti-apoptotic ASFV genes and the molecular mechanisms by which ASFV interferes with inducible gene transcription and immune evasion, less is yet known regarding how ASFV regulates the translational machinery in infected cells, although a recent report has shown a mechanism for favored expression of viral genes based on compartmentalization of viral mRNA and ribosomes with cellular translation factors within the virus factory. The viral mechanisms involved both in the regulation of host genes transcription and in the control of cellular protein synthesis are summarized in this review.

New structural determinants for c-Myc specific heterodimerization with Max and development of a novel homodimeric c-Myc b-HLH-LZ

c-Myc must heterodimerize with Max to accomplish its functions as a transcription factor. This specific heterodimerization occurs through the b-HLH-LZ (basic region, helix 1-loop-helix 2-leucine zipper) domains. In fact, many studies have shown that the c-Myc b-HLH-LZ (c-Myc'SH) preferentially forms a heterodimer with the Max b-HLH-LZ (Max'SH). The primary mechanism underlying the specific heterodimerization lies on the destabilization of both homodimers and the formation of a more stable heterodimer. In this regard, it has been widely reported that c-Myc'SH has low solubility and homodimerizes poorly and that repulsions within the LZ domain account for the homodimer instability. Here, we show that replacing one residue in the basic region and one residue in Helix 1 (H(1)) of c-Myc'SH with corresponding residues conserved in b-HLH proteins confers to c-Myc'SH a higher propensity to form a stable homodimer in solution. In stark contrast to the wild-type protein, this double mutant (L362R, R367L) of the c-Myc b-HLH-LZ (c-Myc'RL) shows limited heterodimerization with Max'SH in vitro. In addition, c-Myc'RL forms highly stable and soluble complexes with canonical as well as non-canonical E-box probes. Altogether, our results demonstrate for the first time that structural determinants driving the specific heterodimerization of c-Myc and Max are embedded in the basic region and H(1) of c-Myc and that these can be exploited to engineer a novel homodimeric c-Myc b-HLH-LZ with the ability of binding the E-box sequence autonomously and with high affinity.

Role of MXD3 in proliferation of DAOY human medulloblastoma cells

A subset of medulloblastomas, the most common brain tumor in children, is hypothesized to originate from granule neuron precursors (GNPs) in which the sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway is over-activated. MXD3, a basic helix-look-helix zipper transcription factor of the MAD family, has been reported to be upregulated during postnatal cerebellar development and to promote GNP proliferation and MYCN expression. Mxd3 is upregulated in mouse models of medulloblastoma as well as in human medulloblastomas. Therefore, we hypothesize that MXD3 plays a role in the cellular events that lead to medulloblastoma biogenesis. In agreement with its proliferative role in GNPs, MXD3 knock-down in DAOY cells resulted in decreased proliferation. Sustained overexpression of MXD3 resulted in decreased cell numbers due to increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Structure-function analysis revealed that the Sin3 interacting domain, the basic domain, and binding to E-boxes are essential for this activity. Microarray-based expression analysis indicated up-regulation of 84 genes and down-regulation of 47 genes. Potential direct MXD3 target genes were identified by ChIP-chip. Our results suggest that MXD3 is necessary for DAOY medulloblastoma cell proliferation. However, increased level and/or duration of MXD3 expression ultimately reduces cell numbers via increased cell death and cell cycle arrest.

MYC directs transcription of MCL1 and eIF4E genes to control sensitivity of gastric cancer cells toward HDAC inhibitors

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) control fundamental physiological processes such as proliferation and differentiation. HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of tumor cells. Therefore, they represent promising cancer therapeutics that appear particularly useful in combination therapies. Although HDACi are tested in current clinical trials, the molecular mechanisms modulating the cellular responses toward HDACi are incompletely understood. To gain insight into pathways that limit HDACi efficacy in gastric cancer, we treated a panel of gastric cancer cells with the clinically relevant HDACi suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). We report that higher expression levels of the anti-apoptotic BCL2 family members MCL1 and BCL(XL) were detectable in cells with high inhibitory concentration 50 (IC(50)) values for SAHA. Using RNAi, we show that MCL1 and BCL(XL) lower the efficacy of SAHA. To find strategies to interfere with MCL1 and BCL(XL) expression, we investigated molecular regulation of both proteins. We show that specific siRNAs against c-MYC as well as pharmacological inhibition of this cancer-relevant transcription factor reduced MCL1 and BCL(XL) expression. Subsequently, we observed an increase in SAHA efficacy. Our data furthermore demonstrate that two different molecular mechanisms are responsible for the modulation of these factors. Whereas c-MYC controls transcription of MCL1 directly, regulation of BCL(XL) was due to c-MYC's capability to regulate the eIF4E gene, which encodes a rate-limiting factor of eukaryotic translation. Our data reveal a new molecular mechanism for how c-MYC controls cell autonomous apoptosis and provide a rationale for a concerted inhibition of HDACs and c-MYC in gastric cancer.

The Max b-HLH-LZ can transduce into cells and inhibit c-Myc transcriptional activities

The inhibition of the functions of c-Myc (endogenous and oncogenic) was recently shown to provide a spectacular therapeutic index in cancer mouse models, with complete tumor regression and minimal side-effects in normal tissues. This was achieved by the systemic and conditional expression of omomyc, the cDNA of a designed mutant of the b-HLH-LZ of c-Myc named Omomyc. The overall mode of action of Omomyc consists in the sequestration of Max and the concomitant competition of the Omomyc/Max complex with the endogenous c-Myc/Max heterodimer. This leads to the inhibition of the transactivation of Myc target genes involved in proliferation and metabolism. While this body of work has provided extraordinary insights to guide the future development of new cancer therapies that target c-Myc, Omomyc itself is not a therapeutic agent. In this context, we sought to exploit the use of a b-HLH-LZ to inhibit c-Myc in a cancer cell line in a more direct fashion. We demonstrate that the b-HLH-LZ domain of Max (Max*) behaves as a bona fide protein transduction domain (PTD) that can efficiently transduce across cellular membrane via through endocytosis and translocate to the nucleus. In addition, we show that the treatment of HeLa cells with Max* leads to a reduction of metabolism and proliferation rate. Accordingly, we observe a decrease of the population of HeLa cells in S phase, an accumulation in G1/G0 and the induction of apoptosis. In agreement with these phenotypic changes, we show by q-RT-PCR that the treatment of HeLa cells with Max* leads to the activation of the transcription c-Myc repressed genes as well as the repression of the expression of c-Myc activated genes. In addition to the novel discovery that the Max b-HLH-LZ is a PTD, our findings open up new avenues and strategies for the direct inhibition of c-Myc with b-HLH-LZ analogs.

AS601245, an Anti-Inflammatory JNK Inhibitor, and Clofibrate Have a Synergistic Effect in Inducing Cell Responses and in Affecting the Gene Expression Profile in CaCo-2 Colon Cancer Cells

PPARαs are nuclear receptors highly expressed in colon cells. They can be activated by the fibrates (clofibrate, ciprofibrate etc.) used to treat hyperlipidemia. Since PPARα transcriptional activity can be negatively regulated by JNK, the inhibition of JNK activity could increase the effectiveness of PPARα ligands. We analysed the effects of AS601245 (a JNK inhibitor) and clofibrate alone or in association, on proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and the gene expression profile of CaCo-2 human colon cancer cells. Proliferation was inhibited in a dose-dependent way by clofibrate and AS601245. Combined treatment synergistically reduced cell proliferation, cyclin D1 and PCNA expression and induced apoptosis and differentiation. Reduction of cell proliferation, accompanied by the modulation of p21 expression was observed in HepG2 cells, also. Gene expression analysis revealed that some genes were highly modulated by the combined treatment and 28 genes containing PPRE were up-regulated, while clofibrate alone was ineffective. Moreover, STAT3 signalling was strongly reduced by combined treatment. After combined treatment, the binding of PPARα to PPRE increased and paralleled with the expression of the PPAR coactivator MED1. Results demonstrate that combined treatment increases the effectiveness of both compounds and suggest a positive interaction between PPARα ligands and anti-inflammatory agents in humans.

Regulation of gene transcription by the oncoprotein MYC

The proteins of the MYC/MAX/MAD network are central regulators of many key processes associated with basic cell physiology. These include the regulation of protein biosynthesis, energy metabolism, proliferation, and apoptosis. Molecularly the MYC/MAX/MAD network achieves these broad activities by controlling the expression of many target genes, which are primarily responsible for the diverse physiological consequences elicited by the network. The MYC proteins of the network possess oncogenic activity and their functional deregulation is associated with the majority of human tumors. Over the last years we have witnessed the accumulation of a considerable number of molecular observations that suggest many different biochemical means and tools by which MYC controls gene expression. We will summarize the more recent findings and discuss how these different building blocks might come together to explain how MYC regulates gene transcription. We note that despite the many molecular details known, we do not have an integrated view of how MYC uses the different tools, neither in a spatial nor in a temporal order.

Myc: the beauty and the beast

The iconic history of the Myc oncoprotein encompasses 3 decades of intense scientific discovery. There is no question that Myc has been a pioneer, advancing insight into the molecular basis of cancer as well as functioning as a critical control center for several diverse biological processes and regulatory mechanisms. This narrative chronicles the journey and milestones that have defined the understanding of Myc, and it provides an opportunity to consider future directions in this challenging yet rewarding field.

Deep sequencing of MYC DNA-binding sites in Burkitt lymphoma

Background

MYC is a key transcription factor involved in central cellular processes such as regulation of the cell cycle, histone acetylation and ribosomal biogenesis. It is overexpressed in the majority of human tumors including aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Especially Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highlight example for MYC overexpression due to a chromosomal translocation involving the c-MYC gene. However, no genome-wide analysis of MYC-binding sites by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) followed by next generation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) has been conducted in BL so far.

Methodology/Principal Findings

ChIP-Seq was performed on 5 BL cell lines with a MYC-specific antibody giving rise to 7,054 MYC-binding sites after bioinformatics analysis of a total of approx. 19 million sequence reads. In line with previous findings, binding sites accumulate in gene sets known to be involved in the cell cycle, ribosomal biogenesis, histone acetyltransferase and methyltransferase complexes demonstrating a regulatory role of MYC in these processes. Unexpectedly, MYC-binding sites also accumulate in many B-cell relevant genes. To assess the functional consequences of MYC binding, the ChIP-Seq data were supplemented with siRNA- mediated knock-downs of MYC in BL cell lines followed by gene expression profiling. Interestingly, amongst others, genes involved in the B-cell function were up-regulated in response to MYC silencing.

Conclusion/Significance

The 7,054 MYC-binding sites identified by our ChIP-Seq approach greatly extend the knowledge regarding MYC binding in BL and shed further light on the enormous complexity of the MYC regulatory network. Especially our observations that (i) many B-cell relevant genes are targeted by MYC and (ii) that MYC down-regulation leads to an up-regulation of B-cell genes highlight an interesting aspect of BL biology.

The transcription factor Mxd4 controls the proliferation of the first blood precursors at the onset of hematopoietic development in vitro

OBJECTIVE

The balance between proliferation and differentiation during hematopoietic development in the embryo is a complex process, the detailed molecular mechanisms of which remain to be fully characterized. The transcription factor Mxd4, a member of the Myc-Max-Mad network, was identified in a global gene expression profiling screen as being tightly regulated at the onset of hematopoietic lineage specification upon in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. Our study investigated the Mxd4 expression pattern at the onset of hematopoiesis and the biological relevance of its sharp and transient downregulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To study the expression pattern and role of Mxd4 at the onset of hematopoiesis, the in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells was used as a model system. Gain of function assays were performed using a doxycycline-inducible embryonic stem cell system.

RESULTS

We show here that Mxd4 expression is transiently downregulated at an early stage of commitment to the hematopoietic lineage. Enforced expression of Mxd4 at this period of differentiation results in a defect in hematopoietic progenitor development, with impaired development of both primitive and definitive blood lineages. This effect is due to a severe decrease in cell proliferation, with an increased frequency of cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase of the cell cycle, alongside a reduced frequency of cells in the S phase.

CONCLUSIONS

Together our results indicate that during embryonic hematopoietic differentiation Mxd4 is an important player in the regulation of blood progenitor proliferation, and suggest that downregulation of its expression might be required for a proliferative burst preceding lineage specification.

Evolution of the Max and Mlx networks in animals

Transcription factors (TFs) are essential for the regulation of gene expression and often form emergent complexes to perform vital roles in cellular processes. In this paper, we focus on the parallel Max and Mlx networks of TFs because of their critical involvement in cell cycle regulation, proliferation, growth, metabolism, and apoptosis. A basic-helix-loop-helix-zipper (bHLHZ) domain mediates the competitive protein dimerization and DNA binding among Max and Mlx network members to form a complex system of cell regulation. To understand the importance of these network interactions, we identified the bHLHZ domain of Max and Mlx network proteins across the animal kingdom and carried out several multivariate statistical analyses. The presence and conservation of Max and Mlx network proteins in animal lineages stemming from the divergence of Metazoa indicate that these networks have ancient and essential functions. Phylogenetic analysis of the bHLHZ domain identified clear relationships among protein families with distinct points of radiation and divergence. Multivariate discriminant analysis further isolated specific amino acid changes within the bHLHZ domain that classify proteins, families, and network configurations. These analyses on Max and Mlx network members provide a model for characterizing the evolution of TFs involved in essential networks.

One Decade Later: What has Gene Expression Profiling Told us About Neuronal Cell Types, Brain Function and Disease?

The many diverse functions executed by the central nervous system (CNS) are mirrored in the diverse shapes, connections, and firing patterns of its individual neuronal cell types. Furthermore, distinct neurological diseases are the result of defects in specific neuronal cell types. However, despite the significance of this cellular diversity underlying brain function and disease, we know relatively little about the genes that contribute to purposeful differences among regions and cell types within the brain. A major challenge in this endeavor is the paucity of markers that define the many regions and cell types thought to exist. Cataloging the neuronal cell types and cell- and region-specific marker genes requires novel avenues that enable researchers to define gene expression profiles of brain regions and individual neurons and to apply this information to understand functional and structural properties in the normal and diseased brain. Functional genomic approaches such as gene expression profiling offers the exclusive opportunity to glimpse the detailed inner workings of distinct neuronal cell types. Recent studies have applied microarray technology in unique and novel ways to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie such neuronal diversity and their potential role in brain diseases.

Combining histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat with aurora kinase inhibitors enhances lymphoma cell killing with repression of c-Myc, hTERT, and microRNA levels

MK-0457 and MK-5108 are novel aurora kinase inhibitors (AKi) leading to G(2)-M cell-cycle arrest. Growth and survival of multiple lymphoma cell lines were studied with either drug alone or in combination with vorinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), using MTS and Annexin V assays, followed by molecular studies. Either of the AKi alone at 100 to 500 nmol/L resulted in approximately 50% reduced cell growth and 10% to 40% apoptosis. Addition of vorinostat reactivated proapoptotic genes and enhanced lymphoma cell death. Quantitative PCR and immunoblotting revealed that epigenetic and protein acetylation mechanisms were responsible for this activity. The prosurvival genes Bcl-X(L) and hTERT were downregulated 5-fold by combination drug treatment, whereas the proapoptotic BAD and BID genes were upregulated 3-fold. The p53 tumor suppressor was stabilized by an increased acetylation in response to vorinostat and a reduced Ser315 phosphorylation in response to aurora kinase A. Vorinostat or trichostatin A decreased MYC mRNA and protein as well as c-Myc-regulated microRNAs. MYC is a critical gene in these responses, as MYC knockdown combined with the expression of the c-Myc antagonist MXD1 raised cell sensitivity to the effects of either AKi. Thus, the HDACi vorinostat leads to both transcriptional and posttranscriptional changes to create a proapoptotic milieu, sensitizing cells to mitosis-specific agents such as AKis.

TGFβ1 enhances MAD1 expression and stimulates promoter-bound Pol II phosphorylation: basic functions of C/EBP, SP and SMAD3 transcription factors

Background

The MAD1 protein, a member of the MYC/MAX/MAD network of transcriptional regulators, controls cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. MAD1 functions as a transcriptional repressor, one direct target gene being the tumor suppressor PTEN. Repression of this gene is critical to mediate the anti-apoptotic function of MAD1. Under certain conditions it also antagonizes the functions of the oncoprotein MYC. Previous studies have demonstrated that MAD1 expression is controlled by different cytokines and growth factors. Moreover we have recently demonstrated that the MAD1 promoter is controlled by the cytokine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) through the activation of STAT3, MAP kinases and C/EBP transcription factors.

Results

We observed that in addition to G-CSF, the cytokine transforming growth factor β (TGFβ1) rapidly induced the expression of MAD1 mRNA and protein in promyelocytic tumor cells. Moreover we found that C/EBP and SP transcription factors cooperated in regulating the expression of MAD1. This cooperativity was dependent on the respective binding sites in the proximal promoter, with the CCAAT boxes being bound by C/EBPα/β heterodimers. Both C/EBP and SP transcription factors bound constitutively to DNA without obvious changes in response to TGFβ1. In addition SMAD3 stimulated the MAD1 reporter, cooperated with C/EBPα and was bound to the core promoter region. Thus SMAD3 appears to be a potential link between TGFβ1 signaling and C/EBP regulated promoter activity. Moreover TGFβ1 stimulated the phosphorylation of polymerase II at serine 2 and its progression into the gene body, consistent with enhanced processivity.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that C/EBP and SP factors provide a platform of transcription factors near the core promoter of the MAD1 gene that participate in mediating signal transduction events emanating from different cytokine receptors. SMAD3, a target of TGFβ1 signaling, appears to be functionally relevant. We suggest that a key event induced by TGFβ1 at the MAD1 promoter is the recruitment or activation of cofactors, possibly in complex with C/EBP, SP, and SMAD3 transcriptional regulators, that control polymerase activity.

Causal reasoning identifies mechanisms of sensitivity for a novel AKT kinase inhibitor, GSK690693

Background

Inappropriate activation of AKT signaling is a relatively common occurrence in human tumors, and can be caused by activation of components of, or by loss or decreased activity of inhibitors of, this signaling pathway. A novel, pan AKT kinase inhibitor, GSK690693, was developed in order to interfere with the inappropriate AKT signaling seen in these human malignancies. Causal network modeling is a systematic computational analysis that identifies upstream changes in gene regulation that can serve as explanations for observed changes in gene expression. In this study, causal network modeling is employed to elucidate mechanisms of action of GSK690693 that contribute to its observed biological effects. The mechanism of action of GSK690693 was evaluated in multiple human tumor cell lines from different tissues in 2-D cultures and xenografts using RNA expression and phosphoproteomics data. Understanding the molecular mechanism of action of novel targeted agents can enhance our understanding of various biological processes regulated by the intended target and facilitate their clinical development.

Results

Causal network modeling on transcriptomic and proteomic data identified molecular networks that are comprised of activated or inhibited mechanisms that could explain observed changes in the sensitive cell lines treated with GSK690693. Four networks common to all cell lines and xenografts tested were identified linking GSK690693 inhibition of AKT kinase activity to decreased proliferation. These networks included increased RB1 activity, decreased MYC activity, decreased TFRC activity, and increased FOXO1/FOXO3 activity.

Conclusion

AKT is involved in regulating both cell proliferation and apoptotic pathways; however, the primary effect with GSK690693 appears to be anti-proliferative in the cell lines and xenografts evaluated. Furthermore, these results indicate that anti-proliferative responses to GSK690693 in either 2-D culture or xenograft models may share common mechanisms within and across sensitive cell lines.

Distinct and temporal roles of nucleosomal remodeling and histone deacetylation in the repression of the hTERT gene

Transcriptional silencing of the hTERT gene during HL60 cell differentiation was a biphasic process. The initial repression was accompanied by the loss of c-Myc binding and disappearance of a nucleosome-free region at the core promoter. The subsequent nucleosomal remodeling and histone modifications at the promoter stabilized this repression.

hTERT, the human telomerase reverse transcriptase, is highly expressed in stem cells and embryonic tissues but undetectable in most adult somatic cells. To understand its repression mechanisms in somatic cells, we investigated the endogenous hTERT gene regulation during differentiation of human leukemic HL60 cells. Our study revealed that silencing of the hTERT promoter was a biphasic process. Within 24 h after initiation of differentiation, hTERT mRNA expression decreased dramatically, accompanied by increased expression of Mad1 gene and disappearance of a nucleosome-free region at the hTERT core promoter. Subsequent to this early repression, nucleosomal remodeling continued at the promoter and downstream region for several days, as demonstrated by micrococcal nuclease and restriction enzyme accessibility assays. This later nucleosomal remodeling correlated with stable silencing of the hTERT promoter. Progressive changes of core histone modifications occurred throughout the entire differentiation process. Surprisingly, inhibition of histone deacetylation at the hTERT promoter did not prevent hTERT repression or nucleosomal deposition, indicating that nucleosomal deposition at the core promoter, but not histone deacetylation, was the cause of transcriptional repression. Our data also suggested that succeeding nucleosomal remodeling and histone deacetylation worked in parallel to establish the stable repressive status of hTERT gene in human somatic cells.

The suppression of MAD1 by AKT-mediated phosphorylation activates MAD1 target genes transcription

MAX dimerization protein 1 (MAD1) is a transcription suppressor that antagonizes MYC-mediated transcription activation, and the inhibition mechanism occurs mainly through the competition of target genes' promoter MYC binding sites by MAD1. The promoter binding proteins switch between MYC and MAD1 affects cell proliferation and differentiation. However, little is known about MAD1's regulation process in cancer cells. Here, we present evidence that AKT inhibits MAD1-mediated transcription repression by physical interaction with and phosphorylation of MAD1. Phosphorylation reduces the binding affinity between MAD1 and its target genes' promoter and thereby abolishes its transcription suppression function. Mutation of the phosphorylation site from serine to alanine rescues the DNA-binding ability in the presence of activated AKT. In addition, AKT inhibits MAD1-mediated target genes (hTERT and ODC) transcription repression and promotes cell cycle and cell growth. However, mutated S145A MAD1 abrogates the inhibition by AKT. Thus, our results suggest that phosphorylation of MAD1 by AKT inhibits MAD1-mediated transcription suppression and subsequently activates the transcription of MAD1 target genes.

TGF-beta enforces senescence in Myc-transformed hematopoietic tumor cells through induction of Mad1 and repression of Myc activity

Inhibition of tumor growth factor (TGF)-beta-mediated cell cycle exit is considered an important tumorigenic function of Myc oncoproteins. Here we found that TGF-beta1 enforced G(1) cell cycle arrest and cellular senescence in human U-937 myeloid tumor cells ectopically expressing v-Myc, which contains a stabilizing mutation frequently found in lymphomas. This correlated with induced expression of the Myc antagonist Mad1, resulting in replacement of Myc for Mad1 at target promoters, reduced histone acetylation and strong repression of Myc-driven transcription. The latter was partially reversed by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, consistent with involvement of Mad1. Importantly, knockdown of MAD1 expression prevented TGF-beta1-induced senescence, underscoring that Mad1 is a crucial component of this process. Enforced Mad1 expression sensitized U-937-myc cells to TGF-beta and restored phorbol ester-induced cell cycle exit, but could not alone induce G(1) arrest, suggesting that Mad1 is required but not sufficient for cellular senescence. Our results thus demonstrate that TGF-beta can override Myc activity despite a stabilizing cancer mutation and induce senescence in myeloid tumor cells, at least in part by induction of Mad1. TGF-beta-induced senescence, or signals mimicking this pathway, could therefore potentially be explored as a therapeutic principle for treating hematopoietic and other tumors with deregulated MYC expression.

Myc's broad reach

The role of the myc gene family in the biology of normal and cancer cells has been intensively studied since the early 1980s. myc genes, responding to diverse external and internal signals, express transcription factors (c-, N-, and L-Myc) that heterodimerize with Max, bind DNA, and modulate expression of a specific set of target genes. Over the last few years, expression profiling, genomic binding studies, and genetic analyses in mammals and Drosophila have led to an expanded view of Myc function. This review is focused on two major aspects of Myc: the nature of the genes and pathways that are targeted by Myc, and the role of Myc in stem cell and cancer biology.

The tumor suppressor activity of IKKalpha in stratified epithelia is exerted in part via the TGF-beta antiproliferative pathway

The transforming growth factor type beta-1 (TGF-beta) signaling pathway is a major tumor suppressor during early carcinogenesis, and its growth-suppressive activity is commonly lost during early tumor progression. IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha) also acts as a tumor suppressor in stratified epithelia, and its expression and nuclear localization are progressively down-regulated during malignant progression of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and acquisition of an invasive phenotype. A critical role for IKKalpha in TGF-beta signaling in stratified epithelia was identified recently during normal keratinocyte differentiation, and both IKKalpha and components of the TGF-beta signaling pathway are required for induction of antiproliferative Myc antagonists in such cells. We now describe that the interaction between IKKalpha and the TGF-beta signaling pathway is also important in a subset of SCCs. In SCCs that are unable to shuttle IKKalpha to the nucleus, defective TGF-beta-induced growth arrest was rescued by introduction of a constitutively nuclear IKKalpha variant. These results suggest that the tumor-suppressive activity of IKKalpha in stratified epithelia may be exerted in part via the TGF-beta signaling pathway.

Cell-restricted immortalization by human papillomavirus correlates with telomerase activation and engagement of the hTERT promoter by Myc

The high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the causative agents of nearly all cervical cancers and are etiologically linked to additional human cancers, including those of anal, oral, and laryngeal origin. The main transforming genes of the high-risk HPVs are E6 and E7. E6, in addition to its role in p53 degradation, induces hTERT mRNA transcription in genital keratinocytes via interactions with Myc protein, thereby increasing cellular telomerase activity. While the HPV type 16 E6 and E7 genes efficiently immortalize human keratinocytes, they appear to only prolong the life span of human fibroblasts. To examine the molecular basis for this cell-type dependency, we examined the correlation between the ability of E6 to transactivate endogenous and exogenous hTERT promoters and to immortalize genital keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Confirming earlier studies, the E6 and E7 genes were incapable of immortalizing human fibroblasts but did delay senescence. Despite the lack of immortalization, E6 was functional in the fibroblasts, mediating p53 degradation and strongly transactivating an exogenous hTERT promoter. However, E6 failed to transactivate the endogenous hTERT promoter. Coordinately with this failure, we observed that Myc protein was not associated with the endogenous hTERT promoter, most likely due to the extremely low level of Myc expression in these cells and/or to differences in chromatin structure, in contrast with hTERT promoters that we found to be activated by E6 (i.e., the endogenous hTERT promoter in primary keratinoctyes and the exogenous hTERT core promoter in fibroblasts), where Myc is associated with the promoter in either a quiescent or an E6-induced state. These findings are consistent with those of our previous studies on mutagenesis and the knockdown of small interfering RNA, which demonstrated a requirement for Myc in the induction of the hTERT promoter by E6 and suggested that occupancy of the promoter by Myc determines the responsiveness of E6 and the downstream induction of telomerase and cell immortalization.

Activation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways regulates Myc-mediated transcription by phosphorylating and promoting the degradation of Mad1

Mad1, a member of the Myc/Max/Mad family, suppresses Myc-mediated transcriptional activity by competing with Myc for heterodimerization with its obligatory partner, Max. The expression of Mad1 suppresses Myc-mediated cell proliferation and transformation. The levels of Mad1 protein are generally low in many human cancers, and Mad1 protein has a very short half-life. However, the mechanism that regulates the turnover of Mad1 protein is poorly understood. In this study, we showed that Mad1 is a substrate of p90 ribosomal kinase (RSK) and p70 S6 kinase (S6K). Both RSK and S6K phosphorylate serine 145 of Mad1 upon serum or insulin stimulation. Ser-145 phosphorylation of Mad1 accelerates the ubiquitination and degradation of Mad1 through the 26S proteasome pathway, which in turn promotes the transcriptional activity of Myc. Our study provides a direct link between the growth factor signaling pathways regulated by PI3 kinase/Akt and MAP kinases with Myc-mediated transcription.

Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 3C interacts with and enhances the stability of the c-Myc oncoprotein

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was the first human DNA virus to be associated with cancer. Its oncogenic potential was further demonstrated by its ability to transform primary B lymphocytes in vitro. EBV nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) is one of a small subset of latent antigens critical for the transformation of human primary B lymphocytes. Although EBNA3C has been shown to modulate several cellular functions, additional targets involved in cellular transformation remain to be explored. EBNA3C can recruit key components of the SCF(Skp2) ubiquitin ligase complex. In this report, we show that EBNA3C residues 130 to 190, previously shown to bind to the SCF(Skp2) complex, also can strongly associate with the c-Myc oncoprotein. Additionally, the interaction of EBNA3C with c-Myc was mapped to the region of c-Myc that includes the highly conserved Skp2 binding domain. Skp2 has been shown to regulate c-Myc stability and also has been shown to function as a coactivator of transcription for c-Myc target genes. We now show that the EBV latent oncoprotein EBNA3C can stabilize c-Myc and that the recruitment of both c-Myc and its cofactor Skp2 to c-Myc-dependent promoters can enhance c-Myc-dependent transcription. This same region of EBNA3C also recruits and modulates the activity of retinoblastoma and p27, both major regulators of the mammalian cell cycle. The inclusion of c-Myc in the group of cellular targets modulated by this domain further accentuates the importance of these critical residues of EBNA3C in bypassing the cell cycle checkpoints.

Role of Myc in differentiation and apoptosis in HL60 cells after exposure to arsenic trioxide or all-trans retinoic acid

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is highly malignant and frequently expresses the PML-RARalpha (promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor-alpha) fusion protein. This fusion protein is targeted by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3), presently used in APL therapy. We have evaluated effects of ATRA and As2O3 treatment in PML-RARalpha-negative HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, harboring amplified c-myc. Characterization of expression and activity of c-Myc and its target genes hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) and CAD (carbamoyltransferase-dihydroorotase) revealed marked down-regulation in response to ATRA, but not As2O3. We suggest that blockage of terminal differentiation upon As2O3 treatment may be mediated through c-Myc.

Drosophila growth and development in the absence of dMyc and dMnt

Myc oncoproteins are essential regulators of the growth and proliferation of mammalian cells. In Drosophila the single ortholog of Myc (dMyc), encoded by the dm gene, influences organismal size and the growth of both mitotic and endoreplicating cells. A null mutation in dm results in attenuated endoreplication and growth arrest early in larval development. Drosophila also contains a single ortholog of the mammalian Mad/Mnt transcriptional repressor proteins (dMnt), which is thought to antagonize dMyc function. Here we show that animals lacking both dMyc and dMnt display increased viability and grow significantly larger and develop further than dMyc single mutants. We observe increased endoreplication and growth of larval tissues in these double mutants and disproportionate growth of the imaginal discs. Gene expression analysis indicates that loss of dMyc leads to decreased expression of genes required for ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis. The additional loss of dMnt partially rescues expression of a small number of dMyc and dMnt genes that are primarily involved in rRNA synthesis and processing. Our results indicate that dMnt repression is normally overridden by dMyc activation during larval development. Therefore the severity of the dm null phenotype is likely due to unopposed repression by dMnt on a subset of genes critical for cell and organismal growth. Surprisingly, considerable growth and development can occur in the absence of both dMyc and dMnt.

Inhibition of apoptosis by MAD1 is mediated by repression of the PTEN tumor suppressor gene

The MYC/MAX/MAD network of transcriptional regulators controls distinct aspects of cell physiology, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. Within the network MAD proteins antagonize the functions of MYC oncoproteins, and the latter are deregulated in the majority of human cancers. While MYC sensitizes cells to proapoptotic signals, the transcriptional repressor MAD1 inhibits apoptosis in response to a broad range of stimuli, including oncoproteins. The molecular targets of MAD1 that mediate inhibition of apoptosis are not known. Here we describe the phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) tumor suppressor gene as a target of MAD1. By binding to the proximal promoter region, MAD1 downregulated PTEN expression. PTEN functions as a lipid phosphatase that regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway. Indeed MAD1-dependent repression of PTEN led to activation of AKT and subsequent stimulation of the antiapoptotic NF-kappaB pathway. Interfering with AKT function affected the control of Fas-induced apoptosis by MAD1. In addition, knockdown of PTEN using small interfering RNA (siRNA) or the lack of PTEN rendered cells insensitive to inhibition of apoptosis by MAD1. These findings identify the PTEN gene as a target of the MYC-antagonist MAD1 and provide a molecular framework critical for the ability of MAD1 to inhibit apoptosis.

A C. elegans Myc-like network cooperates with semaphorin and Wnt signaling pathways to control cell migration

Myc and Mondo proteins are key regulators of cell growth, proliferation, and energy metabolism, yet often overlooked is their vital role in cell migration. Complex networks of protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions control the transcriptional activity of Myc and MondoA confounding their functional analysis in higher eukaryotes. Here we report the identification of the transcriptional activation arm of a simplified Myc-like network in Caenorhabditis elegans. This network comprises an Mlx ortholog, named MXL-2 for Max-like 2, and a protein that has sequence features of both Myc and Mondo proteins, named MML-1 for Myc and Mondo-like 1. MML-1/MXL-2 complexes have a primary function in regulating migration of the ray 1 precursor cells in the male tail. MML-1/MXL-2 complexes control expression of ECM components in the non-migratory epidermis, which we propose contributes to the substratum required for migration of the neighboring ray 1 precursor cells. Furthermore, we show that pro-migratory Wnt/beta-catenin and semaphorin signaling pathways interact genetically with MML-1/MXL-2 to determine ray 1 position. This first functional analysis of the Myc superfamily in C. elegans suggests that MondoA and Myc may have more predominant roles in cell migration than previously appreciated, and their cooperation with other pro-migratory pathways provides a more integrated view of their role in cell migration.

Antagonism of HOX/PBX dimer formation blocks the in vivo proliferation of melanoma

Malignant melanoma is a cancer that arises from melanocyte cells in a complex but well-studied process, and which can only be successfully treated prior to metastasis as it is highly resistant to conventional therapies. A number of recent reports have indicated that members of the HOX family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors are deregulated in melanoma, and may actually be required to maintain proliferation. In this report, we describe the use of a novel, cell-permeable antagonist of the interaction between HOX proteins and PBX, a second homeodomain-containing transcription factor that modifies HOX activity. This antagonist can block the growth of murine B16 cells and trigger apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo when administered to mice with flank tumors.

A novel role of the Mad family member Mad3 in cerebellar granule neuron precursor proliferation

During development, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) regulates the proliferation of cerebellar granule neuron precursors (GNPs) in part via expression of Nmyc. We present evidence supporting a novel role for the Mad family member Mad3 in the Shh pathway to regulate Nmyc expression and GNP proliferation. Mad3 mRNA is transiently expressed in GNPs during proliferation. Cultured GNPs express Mad3 in response to Shh stimulation in a cyclopamine-dependent manner. Mad3 is necessary for Shh-dependent GNP proliferation as measured by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and Nmyc expression. Furthermore, Mad3 overexpression, but not that of other Mad proteins, is sufficient to induce GNP proliferation in the absence of Shh. Structure-function analysis revealed that Max dimerization and recruitment of the mSin3 corepressor are required for Mad3-mediated GNP proliferation. Surprisingly, basic-domain-dependent DNA binding of Mad3 is not required, suggesting that Mad3 interacts with other DNA binding proteins to repress transcription. Interestingly, cerebellar tumors and pretumor cells derived from patched heterozygous mice express high levels of Mad3 compared with adjacent normal cerebellar tissue. Our studies support a novel role for Mad3 in cerebellar GNP proliferation and possibly tumorigenesis, and they challenge the current paradigm that Mad3 should antagonize Nmyc by competition for direct DNA binding via Max dimerization.

Differential effects of Mxi1-SRalpha and Mxi1-SRbeta in Myc antagonism

Mxi1 belongs to the Myc-Max-Mad transcription factor network. Two Mxi1 protein isoforms, Mxi1-SRalpha and Mxi1-SRbeta, have been described as sharing many biological properties. Here, we assign differential functions to these isoforms with respect to two distinct levels of Myc antagonism. Unlike Mxi1-SRbeta, Mxi1-SRalpha is not a potent suppressor of the cellular transformation activity of Myc. Furthermore, although Mxi1-SRbeta exhibits a repressive effect on the MYC promoter in transient expression assays, Mxi1-SRalpha activates this promoter. A specific domain of Mxi1-SRalpha contributes to these differences. Moreover, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase interacts with Mxi1-SRalpha and enhances its ability to activate the Myc promoter. Our findings suggest that Mxi1 gains functional complexity by encoding isoforms with shared and distinct activities.

Multiple basic helix-loop-helix proteins regulate expression of the ENO1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) eukaryotic transcription factors have the ability to form multiple dimer combinations. This property, together with limited DNA-binding specificity for the E box (CANNTG), makes them ideally suited for combinatorial control of gene expression. We tested the ability of all nine Saccharomyces cerevisiae bHLH proteins to regulate the enolase-encoding gene ENO1. ENO1 was known to be activated by the bHLH protein Sgc1p. Here we show that expression of an ENO1-lacZ reporter was also regulated by the other eight bHLH proteins, namely, Ino2p, Ino4p, Cbf1p, Rtg1p, Rtg3p, Pho4p, Hms1p, and Ygr290wp. ENO1-lacZ expression was also repressed by growth in inositol-choline-containing medium. Epistatic analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that regulation by Sgc1p, Ino2p, Ino4p, and Cbf1p and repression by inositol-choline required three distal E boxes, E1, E2, and E3. The pattern of bHLH binding to the three E boxes and experiments with two dominant-negative mutant alleles of INO4 and INO2 support the model that bHLH dimer selection affects ENO1-lacZ expression. These results support the general model that bHLH proteins can coordinate different biological pathways via multiple mechanisms.

Genomic binding and transcriptional regulation by the Drosophila Myc and Mnt transcription factors

Deregulated expression of members of the myc oncogene family has been linked to the genesis of a wide range of cancers, whereas their normal expression is associated with growth, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Myc proteins are transcription factors that function within a network of transcriptional activators (Myc) and repressors (Mxd/Mad and Mnt), all of which heterodimerize with the bHLHZ protein Mad and bind E-box sequences in DNA. These transcription factors recruit coactivator or corepressor complexes that in turn modify histones. Myc, Mxd/Max, and Mnt proteins have been thought to act on a specific subset of genes. However, expression array studies and, most recently, genomic binding studies suggest that these proteins exhibit widespread binding across the genome. Here we demonstrate by immunostaining of Drosophila polytene chromosome that Drosophila Myc (dMyc) is associated with multiple euchromatic chromosomal regions. Furthermore, many dMyc-binding regions overlap with regions containing active RNA polymerase II, although dMyc can also be found in regions lacking active polymerase. We also demonstrate that the pattern of dMyc expression in nuclei overlaps with histone markers of active chromatin but not pericentric heterochromatin. dMyc binding is not detected on the X chromosome rDNA cluster (bobbed locus). This is consistent with recent evidence that in Drosophila cells dMyc regulates rRNA transcription indirectly, in contrast to mammalian cells where direct binding of c-Myc to rDNA has been observed. We further show that the dMyc antagonist dMnt inhibits rRNA transcription in the wing disc. Our results support the view that the Myc/Max/Mad network influences transcription on a global scale.