MYC: connecting selective transcriptional control to global RNA production

TR Kress, A Sabò, B Amati - Nature Reviews Cancer, 2015 - nature.com
TR Kress, A Sabò, B Amati
Nature Reviews Cancer, 2015nature.com
Two opposing models have been proposed to describe the function of the MYC oncoprotein
in shaping cellular transcriptomes: one posits that MYC amplifies transcription at all active
loci; the other that MYC differentially controls discrete sets of genes, the products of which
affect global transcript levels. Here, we argue that differential gene regulation by MYC is the
sole unifying model that is consistent with all available data. Among other effects, MYC
endows cells with physiological and metabolic changes that have the potential to feed back …
Abstract
Two opposing models have been proposed to describe the function of the MYC oncoprotein in shaping cellular transcriptomes: one posits that MYC amplifies transcription at all active loci; the other that MYC differentially controls discrete sets of genes, the products of which affect global transcript levels. Here, we argue that differential gene regulation by MYC is the sole unifying model that is consistent with all available data. Among other effects, MYC endows cells with physiological and metabolic changes that have the potential to feed back on global RNA production, processing and turnover. The field is progressing steadily towards a full characterization of the MYC-regulated genes and pathways that mediate these biological effects and — by the same token — endow MYC with its pervasive oncogenic potential.
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