MYB gene

The MYB gene (MYB proto-oncogene, transcription factor) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 6q23.3. The encoded protein is a transcription activator, a DNA-binding protein that specifically recognizes the sequence 5'-YAAC[GT]G-3'. MYB transcription factors are highly conserved from plants to vertebrates, suggesting that their functions involve fundamental mechanisms in the biology of cells and organisms.

In humans, the MYB gene family is composed of three members: MYB, MYBL1 and MYBL2, which encode the transcription factors MYB, MYBL1 and MYBL2 (also known as c-MYB, A-MYB and B-MYB). A truncated version of MYB, the prototype of the MYB family, was originally identified as a product of the retroviral oncogene v-myb, which causes leukemia in birds. This led to the hypothesis that abnormal activation of MYB could also cause cancer in vertebrates.

The MYB transcription factor plays an important role in controlling the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Associated metabolic pathways include gene expression (transcription) and ESR-mediated signaling. An important paralog of this gene is MYBL1. Alternative splicing leads to several transcript variants.

This gene encodes a protein with three HTH DNA-binding domains that acts as a transcriptional regulator. The MYB protein plays an essential role in the regulation of hematopoiesis. The MYB gene can be abnormally expressed, rearranged or translocated in leukemias and lymphomas and is considered an oncogene. MYB is expressed in salivary glands (Fujii K et al. 2017).

Diseases associated with MYB include:

• adenoid cystic carcinoma (Fujii K et al. 2017)
• and
• angiocentric glioma.

1. Yang Y et al. (2022) The Pea R2R3-MYB Gene Family and Its Role in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Flowers. Front Genet 13:936051
2. Cicirò Y et al. (2021) MYB oncoproteins: emerging players and potential therapeutic targets in human cancer. Oncogenesis 10(2):19.
3. Fujii K et al. (2017) MYB, MYBL1, MYBL2 and NFIB gene alterations and MYC overexpression in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma. Histopathology 71:823-834.