Mysterious Liaisons: the Relationship Between C-Myc and the Cell Cycle

A large body of physiological evidence shows that either upregulation or downregulation of intracellular c-Myc activity has profound consequences on cell cycle progression. Recent work suggests that c-Myc may stimulate the activity of cyclin E/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) complexes and antagonize the action of the Cdk inhibitor p27KIP1. Cyclin D/Cdk4/6 complexes have also been implicated as targets of c-Myc activity. However, in spite of considerable effort, the mechanisms by which c-Myc interacts with the intrinsic cyclin/Cdk cell cycle machinery remain undefined.