Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

High-throughput Screening for Chemical Modulators of Post-transcriptionally Regulated Genes
09:44

High-throughput Screening for Chemical Modulators of Post-transcriptionally Regulated Genes

Published on: March 3, 2015

Small-molecule modulators of c-Myc/Max and Max/Max interactions

Thorsten Berg1

  • 1Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, Leipzig, Germany. tberg@uni-leipzig.de

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|August 4, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Small molecules targeting the transcription factor c-Myc offer a promising cancer therapy. These compounds inhibit c-Myc by disrupting its interaction with Max or stabilizing Max homodimers, counteracting tumor growth.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • The transcription factor c-Myc is frequently overexpressed in human tumors.
  • c-Myc's oncogenic functions rely on heterodimerization with its partner, Max.
  • Targeting c-Myc protein-protein interactions presents a viable strategy for cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review small organic molecules that inhibit c-Myc.
  • To summarize approaches modulating c-Myc/Max protein-protein interactions.
  • To highlight therapeutic strategies against c-Myc in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of small molecules targeting c-Myc.
  • Analysis of compounds inhibiting c-Myc/Max heterodimerization.
  • Summary of strategies stabilizing Max homodimers.

Main Results:

  • Small molecules can effectively inhibit c-Myc/Max interactions.
  • Stabilization of Max homodimers reduces c-Myc activity.
  • Diverse small organic molecules show potential in modulating these interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting c-Myc protein-protein interactions is a key strategy in cancer therapy.
  • Small molecules offer a feasible approach to inhibit oncogenic c-Myc.
  • Modulating c-Myc/Max interactions holds promise for developing novel cancer treatments.

More Related Videos

A Semi-Quantitative Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) assay for studying Rapamycin/mTOR interaction05:28

A Semi-Quantitative Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) assay for studying Rapamycin/mTOR interaction

Published on: August 27, 2019

Methods for Evaluating the Role of c-Fos and Dusp1 in Oncogene Dependence10:09

Methods for Evaluating the Role of c-Fos and Dusp1 in Oncogene Dependence

Published on: January 7, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators02:04

Covalently Linked Protein Regulators

Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...