Intestinal adenoma formation and MYC activation are regulated by cooperation between MYB and Wnt signaling

Cell Death Differ. 2009 Nov;16(11):1530-8. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2009.94. Epub 2009 Jul 17.

Abstract

Aberrant Wnt signaling mediated by mutations affecting APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) or beta-catenin initiates the majority of human colorectal cancers (CRC) and drives tumorigenesis through the activation of specific genes such as MYC. We report here a novel association whereby another oncogenic transcription factor, MYB/c-Myb, is necessary for intestinal adenoma development directed by activated Wnt signaling. APC(Min/+) mice in which c-myb is haploinsufficient survive longer than wild-type APC(Min/+) animals due to a delay in adenoma formation. Intestinal adenomas from APC(Min/+) mice were assessed and found to have high levels of c-myc gene expression. We explored the relationship between activated Wnt signaling and MYB in regulating MYC and found activated beta-catenin in combination with MYB induces robust upregulation of MYC promoter activity, as well as endogenous MYC mRNA and protein expression, in human cells. This cooperation occurred through independent binding of MYB and beta-catenin to the MYC promoter. These data highlight a cooperative function for MYB in the context of activated Wnt signaling and provide a molecular basis for the expression of MYC in CRC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / metabolism*
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / genetics
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / metabolism
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Up-Regulation
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin