MAX (gene)
Encyclopedia
Protein max also known as myc-associated factor X is a protein
that in humans is encoded by the MAX gene
.
(bHLHZ
) family of transcription factor
s. It is able to form homodimers and heterodimers with other family members, which include Mad
, Mxl1
and Myc
. Myc is an oncoprotein
implicated in cell proliferation
, differentiation and apoptosis
. The homodimers and heterodimers compete for a common DNA target site (the E-box
) and rearrangement among these dimer forms provides a complex system of transcriptional regulation. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene but the full-length nature for some of them is unknown.
Max binds to itself and to other transcription factors through its leucine zipper to form homo- and hetero-dimers respectively. Max itself lacks a transactivation
domain so that Max homodimers have a repressive function. In contrast, Myc contains a transactivation domain but cannot homodimerize. However Myc can heterodimerize with Max to form heterodimers that can both bind DNA and transactivate. The transcriptionally active Max/Myc dimer promotes cell proliferation as well as apoptosis
.
with MSH2
, MXD1
, MXI1
, SPAG9
, N-Myc
, MYCL1
, Myc
, Transformation/transcription domain-associated protein
, MNT
and TEAD1
.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that in humans is encoded by the MAX gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
.
Function
Protein max is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipperLeucine zipper
A leucine zipper, aka leucine scissors, is a common three-dimensional structural motif in proteins. These motifs are usually found as part of a DNA-binding domain in various transcription factors, and are therefore involved in regulating gene expression...
(bHLHZ
Basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factors
Basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factors are, as their name indicates, transcription factors containing both Basic helix-loop-helix and leucine zipper motifs.An example is Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor....
) family of transcription factor
Transcription factor
In molecular biology and genetics, a transcription factor is a protein that binds to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the flow of genetic information from DNA to mRNA...
s. It is able to form homodimers and heterodimers with other family members, which include Mad
MXD1
MAD protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MXD1 gene.-Interactions:MXD1 has been shown to interact with Histone deacetylase 2, SMC3, MLX, SIN3A and MAX.-Further reading:...
, Mxl1
MXI1
MAX-interacting protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MXI1 gene.-Interactions:MXI1 has been shown to interact with SMC3 and MAX....
and Myc
Myc
Myc is a regulator gene that codes for a transcription factor. In the human genome, Myc is located on chromosome 8 and is believed to regulate expression of 15% of all genes through binding on Enhancer Box sequences and recruiting histone acetyltransferases...
. Myc is an oncoprotein
Oncogene
An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.An oncogene is a gene found in the chromosomes of tumor cells whose activation is associated with the initial and continuing conversion of normal cells into cancer...
implicated in cell proliferation
Cell growth
The term cell growth is used in the contexts of cell development and cell division . When used in the context of cell division, it refers to growth of cell populations, where one cell grows and divides to produce two "daughter cells"...
, differentiation and apoptosis
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
. The homodimers and heterodimers compete for a common DNA target site (the E-box
E-box
An E-box is a DNA sequence which usually lies upstream of a gene in a promoter region. It is a transcription factor binding site where the specific sequence of DNA, CANNTG, is recognized by proteins that can bind to it to help initiate its transcription. Once transcription factors bind to...
) and rearrangement among these dimer forms provides a complex system of transcriptional regulation. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene but the full-length nature for some of them is unknown.
Max binds to itself and to other transcription factors through its leucine zipper to form homo- and hetero-dimers respectively. Max itself lacks a transactivation
Transactivation
In molecular biology and genetics, transactivation is an increased rate of gene expression triggered either by biological processes or by artificial means.- Natural transactivation :...
domain so that Max homodimers have a repressive function. In contrast, Myc contains a transactivation domain but cannot homodimerize. However Myc can heterodimerize with Max to form heterodimers that can both bind DNA and transactivate. The transcriptionally active Max/Myc dimer promotes cell proliferation as well as apoptosis
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
.
Interactions
MAX (gene) has been shown to interactProtein-protein interaction
Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...
with MSH2
MSH2
MSH2 is a gene commonly associated with Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.-Interactions:MSH2 has been shown to interact with Exonuclease 1, MSH3, MSH6, CHEK2, MAX, Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related and BRCA1.-Further reading:...
, MXD1
MXD1
MAD protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MXD1 gene.-Interactions:MXD1 has been shown to interact with Histone deacetylase 2, SMC3, MLX, SIN3A and MAX.-Further reading:...
, MXI1
MXI1
MAX-interacting protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MXI1 gene.-Interactions:MXI1 has been shown to interact with SMC3 and MAX....
, SPAG9
SPAG9
C-jun-amino-terminal kinase-interacting protein 4 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SPAG9 gene.-Interactions:SPAG9 has been shown to interact with MAX.-Further reading:...
, N-Myc
N-Myc
V-myc myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene, neuroblastoma derived , also known as MYCN, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the MYCN gene.- Function :...
, MYCL1
MYCL1
L-myc-1 proto-oncogene protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYCL1 gene.MYCL1 is a bHLH transcription factor implicated in lung cancer.-Interactions:MYCL1 has been shown to interact with MAX....
, Myc
Myc
Myc is a regulator gene that codes for a transcription factor. In the human genome, Myc is located on chromosome 8 and is believed to regulate expression of 15% of all genes through binding on Enhancer Box sequences and recruiting histone acetyltransferases...
, Transformation/transcription domain-associated protein
Transformation/transcription domain-associated protein
Transformation/transcription domain-associated protein, also known asTRRAP, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TRRAP gene. TRRAP belongs to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinase protein family.- Function :...
, MNT
MNT (gene)
Max-binding protein MNT is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MNT gene.-Interactions:MNT has been shown to interact with MLX, SIN3A and MAX....
and TEAD1
TEAD1
Transcriptional enhancer factor TEF-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TEAD1 gene.-Interactions:TEAD1 has been shown to interact with MEF2C, Serum response factor and MAX.-Further reading:...
.