protein max; Myc-associated factor X (MAX)

Function

• transcription regulator
• forms sequence-specific DNA-binding protein complex with MYC or MAD which recognizes the core sequence 5'-CAC[GA]TG-3'
• the MYC-MAX complex is a transcriptional activator, whereas the MAD-MAX complex is a repressor
• may repress transcription via the recruitment of a chromatin remodeling complex containing H3-K9 histone methyltransferase activity
• efficient DNA binding requires dimerization with another bHLH protein
• binds DNA as a heterodimer with MYC or MAD
• part of the E2F6.com-1 complex in G0 phase
• interacts with SPAG9
• reversible lysine acetylation might regulate the nuclear- cytoplasmic shuttling of specific Max complexes

Structure

contains 1 basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain

Compartment

nucleus

Alternative splicing

• named isoforms=3
• additional isoforms seem to exist

Expression

• expressed in brain, heart & lung > liver, kidney & skeletal muscle

Notes

• may be produced at very low levels due to a premature stop codon in the mRNA, leading to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

More general terms

• basic helix loop helix (bHLH) family transcription factor
• oligomerizing protein
• phosphoprotein

Component of

• calcium carbonate/max protein/simethicone
• myc/max complex
• Mad/max complex
• Mxi1/max complex

Database

• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P61244.html
• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:4149
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/154950
• Entrez gene: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Graphics&list_uids=4149