Skip to main content
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1996 Jun 25;93(13):6635–6640. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.13.6635

A novel function for Myc: inhibition of C/EBP-dependent gene activation.

S Mink 1, B Mutschler 1, R Weiskirchen 1, K Bister 1, K H Klempnauer 1
PMCID: PMC39078  PMID: 8692870

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of the v-Myc oncoprotein on gene expression in myelomonocytic cells. We find that v-Myc dramatically down-regulates the expression of myelomonocytic-specific genes, such as the chicken mim-1 and lysozyme genes, both of which are known targets for C/EBP transcription factors. We present evidence that Myc downregulates these genes by inhibiting the function of C/EBP transcription factors. Detailed examination of the inhibitory mechanism shows that amino-terminal sequences of v-Myc, but not its DNA-binding domain, are required for the suppression of C/EBP-dependent transactivation. Our findings identify a new function for Myc and reveal a novel mechanism by which Myc affects the expression of other genes.

Full text

PDF
6635

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Amati B., Dalton S., Brooks M. W., Littlewood T. D., Evan G. I., Land H. Transcriptional activation by the human c-Myc oncoprotein in yeast requires interaction with Max. Nature. 1992 Oct 1;359(6394):423–426. doi: 10.1038/359423a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Amati B., Land H. Myc-Max-Mad: a transcription factor network controlling cell cycle progression, differentiation and death. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 1994 Feb;4(1):102–108. doi: 10.1016/0959-437x(94)90098-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Angel P., Hattori K., Smeal T., Karin M. The jun proto-oncogene is positively autoregulated by its product, Jun/AP-1. Cell. 1988 Dec 2;55(5):875–885. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(88)90143-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bello-Fernandez C., Packham G., Cleveland J. L. The ornithine decarboxylase gene is a transcriptional target of c-Myc. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Aug 15;90(16):7804–7808. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.16.7804. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Benvenisty N., Leder A., Kuo A., Leder P. An embryonically expressed gene is a target for c-Myc regulation via the c-Myc-binding sequence. Genes Dev. 1992 Dec;6(12B):2513–2523. doi: 10.1101/gad.6.12b.2513. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Birkenmeier E. H., Gwynn B., Howard S., Jerry J., Gordon J. I., Landschulz W. H., McKnight S. L. Tissue-specific expression, developmental regulation, and genetic mapping of the gene encoding CCAAT/enhancer binding protein. Genes Dev. 1989 Aug;3(8):1146–1156. doi: 10.1101/gad.3.8.1146. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bister K., Duesberg P. H. Genetic structure of avian acute leukemia viruses. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1980;44(Pt 2):801–822. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1980.044.01.086. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Bister K., Jansen H. W. Oncogenes in retroviruses and cells: biochemistry and molecular genetics. Adv Cancer Res. 1986;47:99–188. doi: 10.1016/s0065-230x(08)60199-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Blackwell T. K., Kretzner L., Blackwood E. M., Eisenman R. N., Weintraub H. Sequence-specific DNA binding by the c-Myc protein. Science. 1990 Nov 23;250(4984):1149–1151. doi: 10.1126/science.2251503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Blackwood E. M., Eisenman R. N. Max: a helix-loop-helix zipper protein that forms a sequence-specific DNA-binding complex with Myc. Science. 1991 Mar 8;251(4998):1211–1217. doi: 10.1126/science.2006410. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Blackwood E. M., Kretzner L., Eisenman R. N. Myc and Max function as a nucleoprotein complex. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 1992 Apr;2(2):227–235. doi: 10.1016/s0959-437x(05)80278-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Buck M., Turler H., Chojkier M. LAP (NF-IL-6), a tissue-specific transcriptional activator, is an inhibitor of hepatoma cell proliferation. EMBO J. 1994 Feb 15;13(4):851–860. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06328.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Burk O., Mink S., Ringwald M., Klempnauer K. H. Synergistic activation of the chicken mim-1 gene by v-myb and C/EBP transcription factors. EMBO J. 1993 May;12(5):2027–2038. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1993.tb05852.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Calkhoven C. F., Ab G., Wijnholds J. c/CEPB, a chicken transcription factor of the leucine-zipper C/EBP family [corrected]. Nucleic Acids Res. 1992 Aug 11;20(15):4093–4093. doi: 10.1093/nar/20.15.4093. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Cao Z., Umek R. M., McKnight S. L. Regulated expression of three C/EBP isoforms during adipose conversion of 3T3-L1 cells. Genes Dev. 1991 Sep;5(9):1538–1552. doi: 10.1101/gad.5.9.1538. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Christy R. J., Kaestner K. H., Geiman D. E., Lane M. D. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein gene promoter: binding of nuclear factors during differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Mar 15;88(6):2593–2597. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.6.2593. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Christy R. J., Yang V. W., Ntambi J. M., Geiman D. E., Landschulz W. H., Friedman A. D., Nakabeppu Y., Kelly T. J., Lane M. D. Differentiation-induced gene expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes: CCAAT/enhancer binding protein interacts with and activates the promoters of two adipocyte-specific genes. Genes Dev. 1989 Sep;3(9):1323–1335. doi: 10.1101/gad.3.9.1323. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Daksis J. I., Lu R. Y., Facchini L. M., Marhin W. W., Penn L. J. Myc induces cyclin D1 expression in the absence of de novo protein synthesis and links mitogen-stimulated signal transduction to the cell cycle. Oncogene. 1994 Dec;9(12):3635–3645. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Dong Q., Blatter E. E., Ebright Y. W., Bister K., Ebright R. H. Identification of amino acid-base contacts in the Myc-DNA complex by site-specific bromouracil mediated photocrosslinking. EMBO J. 1994 Jan 1;13(1):200–204. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06249.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Eilers M., Schirm S., Bishop J. M. The MYC protein activates transcription of the alpha-prothymosin gene. EMBO J. 1991 Jan;10(1):133–141. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1991.tb07929.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Evan G. I., Littlewood T. D. The role of c-myc in cell growth. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 1993 Feb;3(1):44–49. doi: 10.1016/s0959-437x(05)80339-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Freytag S. O., Geddes T. J. Reciprocal regulation of adipogenesis by Myc and C/EBP alpha. Science. 1992 Apr 17;256(5055):379–382. doi: 10.1126/science.256.5055.379. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Friedman A. D., Landschulz W. H., McKnight S. L. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein activates the promoter of the serum albumin gene in cultured hepatoma cells. Genes Dev. 1989 Sep;3(9):1314–1322. doi: 10.1101/gad.3.9.1314. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Hann S. R., Dixit M., Sears R. C., Sealy L. The alternatively initiated c-Myc proteins differentially regulate transcription through a noncanonical DNA-binding site. Genes Dev. 1994 Oct 15;8(20):2441–2452. doi: 10.1101/gad.8.20.2441. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Hoffman-Liebermann B., Liebermann D. A. Suppression of c-myc and c-myb is tightly linked to terminal differentiation induced by IL6 or LIF and not growth inhibition in myeloid leukemia cells. Oncogene. 1991 Jun;6(6):903–909. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Jansen H. W., Rückert B., Lurz R., Bister K. Two unrelated cell-derived sequences in the genome of avian leukemia and carcinoma inducing retrovirus MH2. EMBO J. 1983;2(11):1969–1975. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1983.tb01686.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Juan T. S., Wilson D. R., Wilde M. D., Darlington G. J. Participation of the transcription factor C/EBP delta in the acute-phase regulation of the human gene for complement component C3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Apr 1;90(7):2584–2588. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.7.2584. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Kato G. J., Barrett J., Villa-Garcia M., Dang C. V. An amino-terminal c-myc domain required for neoplastic transformation activates transcription. Mol Cell Biol. 1990 Nov;10(11):5914–5920. doi: 10.1128/mcb.10.11.5914. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Kerkhoff E., Bister K., Klempnauer K. H. Sequence-specific DNA binding by Myc proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 May 15;88(10):4323–4327. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.10.4323. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Kretzner L., Blackwood E. M., Eisenman R. N. Myc and Max proteins possess distinct transcriptional activities. Nature. 1992 Oct 1;359(6394):426–429. doi: 10.1038/359426a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Li L. H., Nerlov C., Prendergast G., MacGregor D., Ziff E. B. c-Myc represses transcription in vivo by a novel mechanism dependent on the initiator element and Myc box II. EMBO J. 1994 Sep 1;13(17):4070–4079. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06724.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Lin F. T., Lane M. D. Antisense CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein RNA suppresses coordinate gene expression and triglyceride accumulation during differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Genes Dev. 1992 Apr;6(4):533–544. doi: 10.1101/gad.6.4.533. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Min S., Taparowsky E. J. v-Myc, but not Max, possesses domains that function in both transcription activation and cellular transformation. Oncogene. 1992 Aug;7(8):1531–1540. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Moscovici C., Moscovici M. G., Jimenez H., Lai M. M., Hayman M. J., Vogt P. K. Continuous tissue culture cell lines derived from chemically induced tumors of Japanese quail. Cell. 1977 May;11(1):95–103. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(77)90320-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Ness S. A., Kowenz-Leutz E., Casini T., Graf T., Leutz A. Myb and NF-M: combinatorial activators of myeloid genes in heterologous cell types. Genes Dev. 1993 May;7(5):749–759. doi: 10.1101/gad.7.5.749. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Ness S. A., Marknell A., Graf T. The v-myb oncogene product binds to and activates the promyelocyte-specific mim-1 gene. Cell. 1989 Dec 22;59(6):1115–1125. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(89)90767-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Prendergast G. C., Ziff E. B. A new bind for Myc. Trends Genet. 1992 Mar;8(3):91–96. doi: 10.1016/0168-9525(92)90196-b. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Prendergast G. C., Ziff E. B. Methylation-sensitive sequence-specific DNA binding by the c-Myc basic region. Science. 1991 Jan 11;251(4990):186–189. doi: 10.1126/science.1987636. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Reisman D., Elkind N. B., Roy B., Beamon J., Rotter V. c-Myc trans-activates the p53 promoter through a required downstream CACGTG motif. Cell Growth Differ. 1993 Feb;4(2):57–65. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Rosenwald I. B., Rhoads D. B., Callanan L. D., Isselbacher K. J., Schmidt E. V. Increased expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factors eIF-4E and eIF-2 alpha in response to growth induction by c-myc. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Jul 1;90(13):6175–6178. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.13.6175. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Roy A. L., Carruthers C., Gutjahr T., Roeder R. G. Direct role for Myc in transcription initiation mediated by interactions with TFII-I. Nature. 1993 Sep 23;365(6444):359–361. doi: 10.1038/365359a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Symonds G., Klempnauer K. H., Evan G. I., Bishop J. M. Induced differentiation of avian myeloblastosis virus-transformed myeloblasts: phenotypic alteration without altered expression of the viral oncogene. Mol Cell Biol. 1984 Dec;4(12):2587–2593. doi: 10.1128/mcb.4.12.2587. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Symonds G., Klempnauer K. H., Snyder M., Moscovici G., Moscovici C., Bishop J. M. Coordinate regulation of myelomonocytic phenotype by v-myb and v-myc. Mol Cell Biol. 1986 May;6(5):1796–1802. doi: 10.1128/mcb.6.5.1796. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Triezenberg S. J., Kingsbury R. C., McKnight S. L. Functional dissection of VP16, the trans-activator of herpes simplex virus immediate early gene expression. Genes Dev. 1988 Jun;2(6):718–729. doi: 10.1101/gad.2.6.718. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Umek R. M., Friedman A. D., McKnight S. L. CCAAT-enhancer binding protein: a component of a differentiation switch. Science. 1991 Jan 18;251(4991):288–292. doi: 10.1126/science.1987644. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Wu K. J., Wilson D. R., Shih C., Darlington G. J. The transcription factor HNF1 acts with C/EBP alpha to synergistically activate the human albumin promoter through a novel domain. J Biol Chem. 1994 Jan 14;269(2):1177–1182. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Yeh W. C., Cao Z., Classon M., McKnight S. L. Cascade regulation of terminal adipocyte differentiation by three members of the C/EBP family of leucine zipper proteins. Genes Dev. 1995 Jan 15;9(2):168–181. doi: 10.1101/gad.9.2.168. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America are provided here courtesy of National Academy of Sciences

RESOURCES