Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Identification of Transcription Factor Regulators using Medium-Throughput Screening of Arrayed Libraries and a Dual-Luciferase-Based Reporter
Published on: March 27, 2020
P-TEFb is a crucial co-factor for Myc transactivation
Barbara Gargano1, Stefano Amente, Barbara Majello
1Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Abstract:
Myc forms an heterodimer with Max and operates as a transcription factor upon binding to specific DNA sites in cellular chromatin. In addition to recruit histone acetylation activity, Myc binds to the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) which consists of the cyclin-dependent kinase CKD9 and its regulatory subunit cyclin T. P-TEFb phosphorylates the carboxyl-terminal-domain (CTD) of the larger subunit of RNA polymerase II as well as negative elongation factors allowing efficient transcription elongation. Here, we report that Myc binds, as heterodimer with Max, exclusively the core active P-TEFb complex, and it recruits P-TEFb at Myc targets in vivo. Pharmacological inhibition of P-TEFb by 5.6-di-chloro-1-b-D-ribofuranosyl-bensimidazole (DRB) specifically inhibits expression of Myc-responsive CAD and NUC genes, and impairs the Myc-induced S-phase and apoptosis of quiescent cells grown in low serum. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays (ChIP) demonstrated co-occupancy of Myc and P-TEFb to CAD and NUC E-boxes, and DRB treatment diminished the density of Pol II phosphorylated on Ser-2 of its CTD. These results indicate that P-TEFb is recruited in vivo to Myc-target promoters and CDK9 activity is an important step for Myc-dependent stimulation of responsive genes.
More Related Videos
06:21An Ecdysone Receptor-based Singular Gene Switch for Deliberate Expression of Transgene with Robustness, Reversibility, and Negligible Leakiness
Published on: May 7, 2018
08:51Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling
Published on: June 25, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Master Transcription Regulators
Master Transcription Regulators
General Transcription Factors
Transcription Factors
Transcription Factors
Co-activators and Co-repressors