MYCN proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor
Last updated 18 Aug 2020
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The MYCN gene provides instructions for making a protein that plays an important role in the formation of tissues and organs during development before birth. Studies in animals suggest that this protein is necessary for normal development of the limbs, heart, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and digestive system. The MYCN protein regulates the activity of other genes by attaching (binding) to specific regions of DNA and controlling the first step of protein production (transcription). On the basis of this action, this protein is called a transcription factor.
Normal function
The MYCN gene provides instructions for making a protein that plays an important role in the formation of tissues and organs during development before birth. Studies in animals suggest that this protein is necessary for normal development of the limbs, heart, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and digestive system. The MYCN protein regulates the activity of other genes by attaching (binding) to specific regions of DNA and controlling the first step of protein production (transcription). On the basis of this action, this protein is called a transcription factor.
The MYCN gene belongs to a class of genes known as oncogenes. When mutated, oncogenes have the potential to cause normal cells to become cancerous. The MYCN gene is a member of the Myc family of oncogenes. These genes play important roles in regulating cell growth and division (proliferation) and the self-destruction of cells (apoptosis).
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
bHLHe37
MYCN_HUMAN
MYCNOT
N-myc
N-myc proto-oncogene protein
neuroblastoma MYC oncogene
neuroblastoma-derived v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene
NMYC
oncogene NMYC
pp65/67
v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene neuroblastoma derived homolog
v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene, neuroblastoma derived
v-myc myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene, neuroblastoma derived
v-myc myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene, neuroblastoma derived (avian)
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Further reading and references
- MYCN proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Albertson DG. Gene amplification in cancer. Trends Genet. 2006 Aug;22(8):447-55. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2006.06.007. Epub 2006 Jun 19.
- Ewens KG, Bhatti TR, Moran KA, Richards-Yutz J, Shields CL, Eagle RC, Ganguly A. Phosphorylation of pRb: mechanism for RB pathway inactivation in MYCN-amplified retinoblastoma. Cancer Med. 2017 Mar;6(3):619-630. doi: 10.1002/cam4.1010. Epub 2017 Feb 17.
- Jacobs JF, van Bokhoven H, van Leeuwen FN, Hulsbergen-van de Kaa CA, de Vries IJ, Adema GJ, Hoogerbrugge PM, de Brouwer AP. Regulation of MYCN expression in human neuroblastoma cells. BMC Cancer. 2009 Jul 18;9:239. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-9-239.
- Marcelis CL, Hol FA, Graham GE, Rieu PN, Kellermayer R, Meijer RP, Lugtenberg D, Scheffer H, van Bokhoven H, Brunner HG, de Brouwer AP. Genotype-phenotype correlations in MYCN-related Feingold syndrome. Hum Mutat. 2008 Sep;29(9):1125-32. doi: 10.1002/humu.20750.
- Marcelis CLM, de Brouwer APM. Feingold Syndrome 1. 2009 Jun 30 [updated 2019 Apr 4]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7050/
- Mirzamohammadi F, Kozlova A, Papaioannou G, Paltrinieri E, Ayturk UM, Kobayashi T. Distinct molecular pathways mediate Mycn and Myc-regulated miR-17-92 microRNA action in Feingold syndrome mouse models. Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 10;9(1):1352. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03788-7.
- Schwab M, Alitalo K, Klempnauer KH, Varmus HE, Bishop JM, Gilbert F, Brodeur G, Goldstein M, Trent J. Amplified DNA with limited homology to myc cellular oncogene is shared by human neuroblastoma cell lines and a neuroblastoma tumour. Nature. 1983 Sep 15-21;305(5931):245-8. doi: 10.1038/305245a0.
- Soliman SE, Racher H, Zhang C, MacDonald H, Gallie BL. Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics in Retinoblastoma--An Update. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2017 Mar-Apr;6(2):197-207. doi: 10.22608/APO.201711.
- Tang XX, Zhao H, Kung B, Kim DY, Hicks SL, Cohn SL, Cheung NK, Seeger RC, Evans AE, Ikegaki N. The MYCN enigma: significance of MYCN expression in neuroblastoma. Cancer Res. 2006 Mar 1;66(5):2826-33. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-0854.
- van Bokhoven H, Celli J, van Reeuwijk J, Rinne T, Glaudemans B, van Beusekom E, Rieu P, Newbury-Ecob RA, Chiang C, Brunner HG. MYCN haploinsufficiency is associated with reduced brain size and intestinal atresias in Feingold syndrome. Nat Genet. 2005 May;37(5):465-7. doi: 10.1038/ng1546. Epub 2005 Apr 10.
- Van Roy N, De Preter K, Hoebeeck J, Van Maerken T, Pattyn F, Mestdagh P, Vermeulen J, Vandesompele J, Speleman F. The emerging molecular pathogenesis of neuroblastoma: implications for improved risk assessment and targeted therapy. Genome Med. 2009 Jul 27;1(7):74. doi: 10.1186/gm74.
- Vasudevan SA, Nuchtern JG, Shohet JM. Gene profiling of high risk neuroblastoma. World J Surg. 2005 Mar;29(3):317-24. doi: 10.1007/s00268-004-7820-7.
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