trans activation of gene expression by vmyb

• Published in: Molecular and cellular biology Vol. 10; no. 5; pp. 2285 - 2293
• Main Authors: Ibanez, CE, Lipsick, J S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1990
• ISSN: 0270-7306

The v-myb oncogene causes acute myelomonocytic leukemia in chickens and transforms avian myeloid cells in vitro. Its product, p48 super(v-myb), is a short-lived nuclear protein which binds DNA. We demonstrate that p48 super(v-myb) can function as a trans activator of gene expression in transient DNA transfection assays. trans activation requires the highly conserved amino-terminal DNA-binding domain and the less highly conserved carboxyl-terminal domain of p48 super(v-myb), both of which are required for transformation. Multiple copies of a consensus sequence for DNA binding by p48 super(v-myb) inserted upstream of a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter are strongly stimulatory for transcriptional activation by a v-myb-VP16 fusion protein but not by p48 super(v-myb) itself, suggesting that the binding of p48 super(v-myb) to DNA may not be sufficient for trans activation.