A-Myb In Development And Cancer

The mammalian myb gene family consists of a set of three genes, c-myb, Amyb, and B-myb. Of these, c-myb is the most extensively studied. The three myb genes encode transcription factors that bind DNA in a sequence specific manner and regulate complex cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation and histogenesis. Myb proteins play a central role in the maintenance of the differentiation state of cells; thus implicating deregulated myb gene expression or Myb protein function in establishment or maintenance of the neoplastic state. Myb gene sequences are conserved through evolution. While the three myb genes appear to code for proteins that bind to similar DNA sequences, each of these proteins exhibits a characteristic pattern of expression and intrinsic biochemical activity. This review describes the structure, function and regulation of the A-myb gene and its protein product and compares the properties of A-Myb with the more extensively studied c- Myb protein.