c-Myb associates with PML in nuclear bodies in hematopoietic cells

Exp Cell Res. 2004 Jul 1;297(1):118-26. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2004.03.014.

Abstract

The c-Myb transcription factor plays a central role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Being the product of a proto-oncogene, one would expect c-Myb function to be modulated by signal transduction pathways, but our knowledge on such regulation of c-Myb is rather limited. Recently, we and others showed that c-Myb is subjected to sumoylation and that this posttranslational modification has considerable effect on c-Myb's activity. Interestingly, many proteins subjected to SUMO-1 conjugation associate with the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein and localize to PML nuclear bodies (PML NBs). Although the precise molecular function of PML NBs still remains to be defined, they seem to play a role in regulation of gene expression and are linked to specific cellular signaling. We show here that c-Myb localizes to PML NBs and that c-Myb interacts with PML as judged by immunofluorescence microcopy and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Enforced expression of PML IV was shown to enhance c-Myb-dependent reporter activation. Our results imply a role for PML and possibly other components of PML NBs in regulating c-Myb's activity. This novel link between c-Myb and PML, two gene products being implicated in leukemic disorders, suggests that previously unknown mechanisms for regulating c-Myb's activity involving PML may exist.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus Structures / metabolism*
  • Cell Nucleus Structures / ultrastructure
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / ultrastructure
  • Leukemia / genetics
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Up-Regulation / genetics

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins