Genetic analysis of myc and telomerase interactions in vivo

I Flores, G Evan, MA Blasco - Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2006 - Am Soc Microbiol
I Flores, G Evan, MA Blasco
Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2006Am Soc Microbiol
Myc is a transcription factor with pleiotropic effects on tumorigenesis which are likely to be
mediated by its target genes. A known Myc transcriptional target is the catalytic subunit of
telomerase, Tert. However, the contribution of Tert activation to Myc-induced tumorigenesis
in vivo remains unknown. In this study, we addressed the role of telomerase in Myc-induced
skin papillomatosis by using compound mice with a switchable Myc gene, Inv-MycER TAM
mice, in combination with either telomerase deficiency (Terc−/−) or telomerase …
Abstract
Myc is a transcription factor with pleiotropic effects on tumorigenesis which are likely to be mediated by its target genes. A known Myc transcriptional target is the catalytic subunit of telomerase, Tert. However, the contribution of Tert activation to Myc-induced tumorigenesis in vivo remains unknown. In this study, we addressed the role of telomerase in Myc-induced skin papillomatosis by using compound mice with a switchable Myc gene, Inv-MycER TAM mice, in combination with either telomerase deficiency (Terc−/−) or telomerase overexpression (K5-mTert) in the skin. We first demonstrated that Myc activates telomerase in the skin. With Inv-MycER TAM× Terc−/− mice, we further showed that this telomerase activation is partially required to elicit a full hyperplastic Myc-induced response. The presence of critically short telomeres in late-generation Inv-MycER TAM× Terc−/− mice further reduced the skin lesion induced by Myc. On the other hand, telomerase overexpression in the skin of K5-mTert mice augments Myc-induced hyperplasia in the absence of changes in telomere length, suggesting a direct role of telomerase in the Myc protumorigenic response. Taken together, these results highlight telomerase as a mediator of Myc-induced papillomatosis and suggest telomerase as a putative therapeutic target for Myc-dependent lesions.
American Society for Microbiology