Myc proto-oncogene encodes nuclear DNA-binding phosphoproteins that are involved in the regulation of gene expression and DNA replication during cell growth and differentiation. Myc encodes a protein of 65 kDa which is expressed in almost all normal and transformed cells. The expression correlates with the proliferation state of the cells. Transcription is repressed in quiescent or terminally differentiated cells. Expression of Myc is generally induced after mitogenic stimulation of cells or serum induction. Myc therefore is an important positive regulator of cell growth and proliferation. Myc has been demonstrated also to be a potent inducer of apoptosis when expressed in the absence of serum or growth factors. Apoptosis may serve also as a protective mechanism to prevent tumorigenicity elicited by deregulated Myc expression. Sequences of the Myc oncogene have been highly conserved throughout evolution, from Drosophila to vertebrates1) Baudino T A, et al. (2001) Mol Cell Biol. 21: 691-702. Blackwood E M, et al. (1991) Science. 251:1211-1217. Henriksson M, et al. (1996) Adv Cancer Res. 68: 109-182. Grandori C, et al. (2000) Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 16: 653-699.
							
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