Max dimerization protein 4 (MXD4)

Max dimerization protein 4 (MXD4) is a transcriptional repressor that forms heterodimers with the MAX protein, enabling it to bind DNA at E-box sequences and repress transcription of target genes. MXD4 competes with MYC for binding to MAX; whereas MYC/MAX heterodimers activate transcription and drive cell proliferation, MXD4/MAX heterodimers repress MYC target genes, antagonizing MYC function and promoting cell differentiation or quiescence. Studies indicate that MXD4 acts as a tumor suppressor and is involved in regulating the balance between cell proliferation and differentiation. Aberrant expression or genetic alteration of MXD4 has been associated with human cancers, such as NUTM1-rearranged sarcomas and acute myeloid leukemia, where it modulates the MYC transcriptional network and impacts self-renewal and tumorigenesis. MXD4 belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLH-LZ) family of transcription factors and is classified as a Max dimerization (MAD/MXD) protein.

Other names

MAD4BHLHC12MSTP149MST149bHLHc12Max-interacting transcriptional repressor MAD4Max-associated protein 4Class C basic helix-loop-helix protein 12