Functional interplay between c-Myc and Max in B lymphocyte differentiation.

EMBO Rep, 2018/10;19(10)

Pérez-Olivares M[1], Trento A[1], Rodriguez-Acebes S[2], González-Acosta D[2], Fernández-Antorán D[1], Román-García S[1], Martinez D[2], López-Briones T[2], Torroja C[3], Carrasco YR[1], Méndez J[2], Moreno de Alborán I[4]

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PMID: 30126925DOI: 10.15252/embr.201845770

Impact factor: 9.071

Abstract
The Myc family of oncogenic transcription factors regulates myriad cellular functions. Myc proteins contain a basic region/helix-loop-helix/leucine zipper domain that mediates DNA binding and heterodimerization with its partner Max. Among the Myc proteins, c-Myc is the most widely expressed and relevant in primary B lymphocytes. There is evidence suggesting that c-Myc can perform some of its functions in the absence of Max in different cellular contexts. However, the functional in vivo interplay between c-Myc and Max during B lymphocyte differentiation is not well understood. Using in vivo and ex vivo models, we show that while c-Myc requires Max in primary B lymphocytes, several key biological processes, such as cell differentiation and DNA replication, can initially progress without the formation of c-Myc/Max heterodimers. We also describe that B lymphocytes lacking Myc, Max, or both show upregulation of signaling pathways associated with the B-cell receptor. These data suggest that c-Myc/Max heterodimers are not essential for the initiation of a subset of important biological processes in B lymphocytes, but are required for fine-tuning the initial response after activation.

Keywords: B lymphocytes; Max; cell differentiation; c‐Myc; replication

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