MYB, also known as c-MYB, A-MYB, and B-MYB (encoded by MYB, MYBL1, and MYBL2 respectively), is a transcription factor highly conserved from plants to vertebrates [5]. It plays a crucial role in various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, by protein-protein interaction and transcriptional regulation of signaling pathways [3]. In vertebrates, it is significantly associated with oncogenesis, being overexpressed in many human leukemias, breast cancers, and other solid tumors [3,5]. In plants, the MYB family is large and functionally diverse, with the R2R3-MYB subfamily being selectively expanded. They function in plant-specific processes like development, metabolism, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses [1,2,4,6,7].

In human cancers, studies have shown that c-MYB is frequently overexpressed, often due to translocations in specific tumors. For example, in T-cell ALL, acute basophilic leukemia, and adenoid cystic carcinoma, specific chromosomal translocations lead to c-MYB overexpression [3]. In plants, systematic knockout mutation screens in Arabidopsis have started to reveal the functions of R2R3-MYB genes. These genes control aspects of plant secondary metabolism, as well as cell identity and fate [2]. In tobacco, genome-wide identification and expression analysis of R2R3-MYB genes have shown their differential expression under abiotic stresses [4].

In conclusion, MYB is a critical transcription factor. In vertebrates, its dysregulation is closely linked to cancer, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for cancers. In plants, MYB genes, especially the R2R3-MYB subfamily, play essential roles in various physiological processes. The study of MYB through gene knockout and other functional studies in both animal and plant models has provided valuable insights into its functions and its implications in disease and plant biology.

References:

1. Dubos, Christian, Stracke, Ralf, Grotewold, Erich, Martin, Cathie, Lepiniec, Loïc. 2010. MYB transcription factors in Arabidopsis. In Trends in plant science, 15, 573-81. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2010.06.005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20674465/

2. Stracke, R, Werber, M, Weisshaar, B. . The R2R3-MYB gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. In Current opinion in plant biology, 4, 447-56. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11597504/

3. Fry, Elizabeth A, Inoue, Kazushi. 2019. c-MYB and DMTF1 in Cancer. In Cancer investigation, 37, 46-65. doi:10.1080/07357907.2018.1550090. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30599775/

4. Yang, Jiahan, Zhang, Binghui, Gu, Gang, Lin, Jianfeng, Xie, Xiaofang. 2022. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). In BMC genomics, 23, 432. doi:10.1186/s12864-022-08658-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35681121/

5. Cicirò, Ylenia, Sala, Arturo. 2021. MYB oncoproteins: emerging players and potential therapeutic targets in human cancer. In Oncogenesis, 10, 19. doi:10.1038/s41389-021-00309-y. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33637673/

6. Wang, Yijie, Zhou, Huiyan, He, Yuanrong, Lin, Sue, Huang, Li. 2023. MYB transcription factors and their roles in the male reproductive development of flowering plants. In Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology, 335, 111811. doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111811. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37574139/

7. Yanhui, Chen, Xiaoyuan, Yang, Kun, He, Hongya, Gu, Li-Jia, Qu. . The MYB transcription factor superfamily of Arabidopsis: expression analysis and phylogenetic comparison with the rice MYB family. In Plant molecular biology, 60, 107-24. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16463103/