D
IPR003327

Leucine zipper, Myc

InterPro entry
Short nameMyc-LZ
Overlapping
homologous
superfamilies
 

Description

This family consists of the leucine zipper dimerisation domain found in both cellular c-Myc proto-oncogenes and viral v-Myc oncogenes. Dimerisation via the leucine zipper motif with other basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (b/HLH/lz) proteins is required for efficient DNA binding
[1]
. The Myc-Max dimer is a transactivating complex activating expression of growth related genes promoting cell proliferation. The dimerisation is facilitated via interdigitating leucine residues every 7th position of the α helix. Like charge repulsion of adjacent residues in this region preturbs the formation of homodimers with heterodimers being promoted by opposing charge attractions. It has been demonstrated that in transgenic mice the balance between oncogene-induced proliferation and apoptosis in a given tissue can be a critical determinant in the initiation and maintenance of the tumor
[2]
.

References

1.Insights into the mechanism of heterodimerization from the 1H-NMR solution structure of the c-Myc-Max heterodimeric leucine zipper. Lavigne P, Crump MP, Gagne SM, Hodges RS, Kay CM, Sykes BD. J. Mol. Biol. 281, 165-81, (1998). View articlePMID: 9680483

2.Action of Myc in vivo - proliferation and apoptosis. Pelengaris S, Rudolph B, Littlewood T. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 10, 100-5, (2000). View articlePMID: 10679391

GO terms

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