Oncoprotein v-Myb and retinoic acid receptor alpha are mutual antagonists

The process of hematopoiesis is critically dependent on correct interactions of multiple regulatory molecules and transcription factors. We have studied the interactions of the v-Myb and retinoic acid receptor proteins which have opposing effects on hematopoiesis. While v-myb acts as a transforming oncogene preventing differentiation of monoblasts to macrophages, RAR alpha functions as an anti-oncogene arresting the growth of v-myb-transformed cells and allowing their final myeloid differentiation steps to occur. We found that the retinoic acid receptor alpha inhibits v-Myb transformation by suppressing the expression of v-Myb target genes typified by the mim-1 gene. Conversely, v-Myb protein interferes with RAR alpha transactivation function as well as with retinoic acid-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. These results demonstrate that retinoic acid receptor and v-Myb proteins act in antagonistic ways and reciprocally modify each other's functions.