This grant application is focused on the molecular functions of the proteins encoded by the myc-protooncogene family. Myc proteins are widely expressed during vertebrate development where they regulate cell growth, proliferation, death, and differentiation in response to diverse extracellular signals. Importantly, deregulation of Myc expression is strongly linked to the etiology of many different types of cancers. Myc proteins are sequence-specific DNA binding proteins known to function as part of a transcriptional regulatory network that activates and represses expression of hundreds of target genes. This is accomplished in part by Myc's ability to recruit higher order complexes, several of which act to modify histones and alter chromatin structure. Myc may also possess functions separable from its transcriptional activities. A major goal of this grant is to elucidate in detail the connection between Myc's molecular functions and its biological effects on cell behavior.
Aims 1 and 2 explore the mechanisms underlying Myc's roles in pluripotency and differentiation and are based on our preliminary analyses of genomic binding by Myc in murine embryonic stem (ES) cells.
In Aim 1 we extend our study of microRNAs induced by c-Myc in ES cells and test the hypothesis that these miRNAs comprise a Myc-regulated pathway that suppresses differentiation. We will determine whether the miRNA-encoding genes are directly regulated by Myc, and employ genetic analysis to define the events in differentiation affected by the miRNAs and their gene targets. We will also identify additional Myc-regulated miRNAs in stem cells.
Aim 2 expands on other functional classes of Myc-regulated genes in ES cells. These include genes encoding chromatin modifying factors and as well as genes that are associated with Polycomb repression complexes (PcG). We propose to determine whether Myc regulates PcG function in ES cells and further examine the effects of (i) modulating Myc levels, and (ii) induction of differentiation, on PcG binding, histone modification, and gene expression for a subset of Myc target and other ES cell genes.
Aim 3 is focused on a novel form of the Myc protein (""""""""Myc-nick"""""""") that we identified as a cytoplasmic N-terminal cleavage product of Myc generated by calcium-dependent calpain proteases. Myc-nick lacks a Max dimerization domain and nuclear localization sequences. Our preliminary data suggest that Myc-nick binds to and mediates acetylation of tubulin and promotes differentiation. We propose to characterize the binding of Myc-nick to tubulin, determine the nature of its recruited complexes, and use molecular and genetic approaches to define its role in terminal differentiation. Because many tumors are altered in the capacity to differentiate, delineating the functions of Myc in the context of differentiation is likely to be important in understanding Myc's role in oncogenesis.
The focus of this application is on a group of genes (the myc family) that regulate several of the most fundamental properties of living cells: growth, division, death and differentiation. Importantly, myc genes are mutated and deregulated in a very wide range of human cancers. Detailed knowledge of the molecular functions of myc will be critical for detection, diagnosis and treatment of human cancers.
| Hiler, Daniel J; Barabas, Marie E; Griffiths, Lyra M et al. (2016) Reprogramming of mouse retinal neurons and standardized quantification of their differentiation in 3D retinal cultures. Nat Protoc 11:1955-1976 |
| Kim, Dong-Wook; Wu, Nan; Kim, Young-Chul et al. (2016) Genetic requirement for Mycl and efficacy of RNA Pol I inhibition in mouse models of small cell lung cancer. Genes Dev 30:1289-99 |
| Anderson, Sarah; Poudel, Kumud Raj; Roh-Johnson, Minna et al. (2016) MYC-nick promotes cell migration by inducing fascin expression and Cdc42 activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E5481-90 |
| Diolaiti, Daniel; McFerrin, Lisa; Carroll, Patrick A et al. (2015) Functional interactions among members of the MAX and MLX transcriptional network during oncogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 1849:484-500 |
| Hiler, Daniel; Chen, Xiang; Hazen, Jennifer et al. (2015) Quantification of Retinogenesis in 3D Cultures Reveals Epigenetic Memory and Higher Efficiency in iPSCs Derived from Rod Photoreceptors. Cell Stem Cell 17:101-15 |
| Conacci-Sorrell, Maralice; McFerrin, Lisa; Eisenman, Robert N (2014) An overview of MYC and its interactome. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 4:a014357 |
| Conacci-Sorrell, Maralice; Ngouenet, Celine; Anderson, Sarah et al. (2014) Stress-induced cleavage of Myc promotes cancer cell survival. Genes Dev 28:689-707 |
| Sanchez-Arévalo Lobo, V J; Doni, M; Verrecchia, A et al. (2013) Dual regulation of Myc by Abl. Oncogene 32:5261-71 |
| Haskins, William E; Zablotsky, Bethany L; Foret, Michael R et al. (2013) Molecular Characteristics in MRI-Classified Group 1 Glioblastoma Multiforme. Front Oncol 3:182 |
| Pshenichnaya, Irina; Schouwey, Karine; Armaro, Marzia et al. (2012) Constitutive gray hair in mice induced by melanocyte-specific deletion of c-Myc. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 25:312-25 |
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