A critical role for Mnt in Myc-driven T-cell proliferation and oncogenesis

Jason M. Link, Sara Ota, Zi Qiang Zhou, Colin J. Daniel, Rosalie C. Sears, Peter J. Hurlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mnt (Max's next tango) is a Max-interacting transcriptional repressor that can antagonize both the proproliferative and proapoptotic functions of Myc in vitro. To ascertain the physiologically relevant functions of Mnt and to help define the relationship between Mnt and Myc in vivo, we generated a series of mouse strains in which Mnt was deleted in T cells in the absence of endogenous c-Myc or in the presence of ectopic c-Myc. We found that apoptosis caused by loss of Mnt did not require Myc but that ectopic Myc expression dramatically decreased the survival of both Mnt-deficient T cells in vivo and Mnt-deficient MEFs in vitro. Consequently, Myc-driven proliferative expansion of T cells in vitro and thymoma formation in vivo were prevented by the absence of Mnt. Consistent with T-cell models, mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking Mnt were refractory to oncogenic transformation by Myc. Tumor suppression caused by loss of Mnt was linked to increased apoptosis mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, although theoretically and experimentally a Myc antagonist, the dominant physiological role of Mnt appears to be suppression of apoptosis. Our results redefine the physiological relationship between Mnt and Myc and requirements for Myc-driven oncogenesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)19685-19690
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume109
Issue number48
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 27 2012

Keywords

  • Antioxidant
  • Bcl-2
  • Buthionine sulfoximine
  • Cancer
  • Ras

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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