Regulation of hematopoietic cell proliferation and differentiation by the myb oncogene family of transcription factors

The myb family of genes include the virally encoded v-myb oncogene, its normal cellular equivalent c-myb and two related members called A-myb and B-myb. They are all transcription factors that recognize the same DNA sequence (PyAACG/TG) and are all involved in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation in different cell types, including hematopoietic cells. C-myb is most highly expressed in hematopoietic cells and its oncogenic activation leads to transformation of these cells. Several lines of evidence have demonstrated that c-myb regulates both the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells of different lineages. The mechanisms of action of c-myb and v-myb are becoming clearer, mostly through the study of the different genes that are regulated by these transcription factors and the cofactors with which c-myb and v-myb co-operate. More recently the biological and biochemical functions of the B-myb and A-myb gene products have been investigated. Evidence for the function of the different members of the myb family in relation to hematopoietic proliferation and differentiation is presented, and the different roles of the myb genes are discussed.