Zimmerman K, Alt F W
Department of Biochemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
Crit Rev Oncog. 1990;2(1):75-95.
The myc family of nuclear oncogenes contains three well-characterized members, c-myc, N-myc, and L-myc. These genes encode related but distinct nuclear proteins that can contribute to tumorigenic conversion both in vitro and in vivo. However, each gene displays a unique activation pattern in spontaneously arising tumors, a pattern that partially reflects the unique expression pattern of each gene during normal development. Although the specific function of myc family genes has not been determined, changes in myc gene expression accompany in vitro exposure to growth and differentiation stimuli, suggesting an important role in these cellular processes. In addition, the homologies shared among myc genes and two groups of DNA binding, transcriptional regulatory proteins suggests a role in regulating gene expression. This review describes the similar and unique properties of individual members of the myc gene family with respect to their expression and potential role during normal development and in the tumorigenic conversion process.
核致癌基因的myc家族包含三个特征明确的成员，即c-myc、N-myc和L-myc。这些基因编码相关但不同的核蛋白，它们在体外和体内都可促成致瘤转化。然而，每个基因在自发产生的肿瘤中都呈现出独特的激活模式，这种模式部分反映了每个基因在正常发育过程中的独特表达模式。尽管myc家族基因的具体功能尚未确定，但体外暴露于生长和分化刺激时会伴随myc基因表达的变化，这表明其在这些细胞过程中起重要作用。此外，myc基因与两组DNA结合转录调节蛋白之间的同源性表明其在调节基因表达方面的作用。本综述描述了myc基因家族各个成员在正常发育和致瘤转化过程中的表达及潜在作用方面的相似和独特特性。
