MYC-driven nuclear transcriptional condensates (MYC condensates)

MYC-driven nuclear transcriptional condensates are membraneless organelles formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of the MYC oncoprotein and its co-factors, such as MAX, MED1, and BRD4, at genomic sites like super-enhancers (Source: nih.gov, biorxiv.org). These assemblies concentrate the transcriptional machinery, including RNA polymerase II, to amplify the expression of genes that drive cell proliferation, metabolism, and survival (Source: nih.gov). In many aggressive cancers, MYC is overexpressed or amplified, leading to the formation of these aberrant condensates which sustain the oncogenic state and contribute to drug resistance (Source: dewpointx.com, condensates.com). Historically, MYC has been considered undruggable due to its intrinsically disordered structure, but the discovery of its role in condensate formation has opened new therapeutic avenues (Source: natlawreview.com). Small-molecule condensate modulators (c-mods) are currently being developed to selectively dissolve or disrupt these assemblies, thereby inhibiting MYC-driven oncogenic transcription while potentially sparing normal cells with lower MYC levels (Source: aacrjournals.org, dewpointx.com).

Other names

MYC transcriptional condensatesMYC phase-separated condensatesMYC-MAX condensatesMYC transcriptional hubsN-myc condensates

Modulation of biomolecular condensates to disrupt oncogenic transcription, dissolution of phase-separated assemblies, and inhibition of MYC-MAX dimerization or DNA binding within the condensate environment.