Myc - MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor

The protein encoded by this gene is a multifunctional, nuclear phosphoprotein that plays a role in cell cycle progression, apoptosis and cellular transformation. It functions as a transcription factor that regulates transcription of specific target genes. Mutations, overexpression, rearrangement and translocation of this gene have been associated with a variety of hematopoietic tumors, leukemias and lymphomas, including Burkitt lymphoma, in human. There is evidence to show that alternative translation initiations from an upstream, in-frame non-AUG (CUG) and a downstream AUG start site result in the production of two isoforms with distinct N-termini, in human and mouse. Rat mRNA also has a similarly placed CUG upstream of the AUG start site, suggesting that it may also produce two Myc proteins. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]