c-Myc Function in Neoplasia

1. 1 SCOPE OF BOOK n explosion of novel findings in the past decade has contrib A uted to the great progress toward understanding the biology of human cancers. Much of this progress can be attributed to our abil ity to dissect many biological processes at the molecular level. Most spectacular is the technology of molecular biology that allows identi fication and characterization of genes that participate in the genesis of human cancers. Three major groups of genes appear to play out the drama of cancer development: tumor suppressor genes, mis match repair genes, and oncogenes. The tumor suppressor genes 1 encode products that are inhibitory to cell proliferation. The loss of these inhibitors, by mutation or deletion, can unleash cells from their restraints to proliferate. Mutations in the mismatch repair 2 10 genes also have been implicated in tumorigenesis. - The inability of cells to repair spontaneously occurring mutations leads to genom ic instability and could potentially result in the accumulation of car cinogenic DNA lesions. Finally, activation of proto-oncogenes, which are normal cellular genes, into oncogenes could accelerate the 11 processes of cell proliferation. c-myc was one of the very first proto oncogenes to be identified and because it normally plays pivotal roles in both cell proliferation and cell death has enticed many to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which it transforms cells.

Klappentext

This book provides an overview of signal transduction and the biology of cell proliferation as a background for a timely review of the c-Myc oncogene and its protein product. Since c-Myc altered expression is involved in many different types of human cancers, the chapters are aimed toward unfolding the function of c-Myc in neoplasia.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Retroviruses, Cancer Genes, and Tumor Suppressor Genes.- 3. Historical Perspectives of myc Gene Studies.- 4. Structure of the c-myc Gene and Its Transcription.- 5. Involvement of c-myc in Human Cancers.- 6. Properties of the c-Myc Protein.- 7. Functional Domains of c-myc Protein.- 8. Max Association with Myc.- 9. DNA-Binding Properties of Myc.- 10. Myc Target Genes in Cell Proliferaion and Programmed Cell Death.