c-Myc

c-Myc inhibitors act on the MYC transcription factor, a central regulator of cell growth and proliferation. The MYC proto-oncogene protein binds DNA only as a heterodimer with MYC-associated factor X (MAX), a partnership described in 1991. MYC-MAX dimers recognize E-box sequences and regulate genes for ribosome biogenesis, metabolism and cell cycle progression. Amplification, chromosomal translocation or upstream signaling deregulates MYC in many tumor types. Because MYC has no defined ligand-binding pocket, compounds approach it in different ways. 10058-F4, 10074-G5 and MYCi975 are small molecules that interfere with MYC-MAX dimerization. IZCZ-3 is described as a MYC transcription inhibitor that binds a G-quadruplex in the MYC promoter, and related ligands are listed under G-quadruplex.