MAX (also known as myc-associated factor X) is a gene that in humans encodes the MAX transcription factor. [5] [6]
The protein product of MAX contains the basic helix-loop-helix and leucine zipper motifs. It is therefore included in the bHLHZ family of transcription factors. It is able to form homodimers with other MAX proteins and heterodimers with other transcription factors, including Mad, Mxl1 and Myc. The homodimers and heterodimers compete for a common DNA target site (the E-box) in a gene promoter zone. Rearrangement of dimers (e.g., Mad:Max, Max:Myc) provides a system of transcriptional regulation with greater diversity of gene targets. Max must dimerise in order to be biologically active. [7]
Transcriptionally active hetero- and homodimers involving Max can promote cell proliferation as well as apoptosis. [8]
The protein product of Max has been shown to interact with:
This gene has been shown mutated in cases of hereditary pheochromocytoma. [25] More recently the Max gene becomes mutated and becomes inactivated in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This is mutually exclusive with alterations at Myc and BRG1, the latter coding for an ATPase of the SWI/SNF complex. It was demonstrated that the BRG1 product regulates the expression of Max through direct recruitment to the Max promoter region, and that depletion of BRG1 strongly hinders cell growth, specifically in Max-deficient cells, suggesting that the two together cause synthetic lethality. Furthermore, Max required BRG1 to activate neuroendocrine transcriptional programs and to up-regulate Myc targets, such as glycolytic-related genes. [26]
Myc is a family of regulator genes and proto-oncogenes that code for transcription factors. The Myc family consists of three related human genes: c-myc (MYC), l-myc (MYCL), and n-myc (MYCN). c-myc was the first gene to be discovered in this family, due to homology with the viral gene v-myc.
N-myc proto-oncogene protein also known as N-Myc or basic helix-loop-helix protein 37 (bHLHe37), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYCN gene.
MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYC gene which is a member of the myc family of transcription factors. The protein contains basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) structural motif.
Transcription factor E2F1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the E2F1 gene.
Paired amphipathic helix protein Sin3a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIN3A gene.
Retinoblastoma-like protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RBL2 gene.
DNA-binding protein inhibitor ID-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ID1 gene.
Retinoblastoma-like 1 (p107), also known as RBL1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RBL1 gene.
Transcription factor E3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TFE3 gene.
MAX-interacting protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MXI1 gene.
HMG-box transcription factor 1, also known as HBP1, is a human protein.
Lysine-specific demethylase 5A is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the KDM5A gene.
Paired amphipathic helix protein Sin3b is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIN3B gene.
L-myc-1 proto-oncogene protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYCL1 gene.
MAD protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MXD1 gene.
ETS domain-containing protein Elk-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ELK3 gene.
Max-like protein X is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MLX gene.
Max-interacting transcriptional repressor MAD4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MXD4 gene.
MNT is a Max-binding protein that is encoded by the MNT gene
MAX dimerization protein 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MXD3 gene located on Chromosome 5.
This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.