Nursing some sense out of Myc

Abstract

Data recently published in BMC Biology provide insights into the normal physiological function of c-myc in the development and regeneration of the mammary gland and indicate a key role in epithelial cell proliferation, elaboration of ductal alveoli, and the biosynthetic capacity and milk production of the mature organ.

Figure 1

Pleiotropic effects of c-Myc activation. Myc acts as an intracellular sensor of mitogenic stimuli; its expression leads to the activation or repression of an enormous range of target genes that affect diverse intracellular and extracellular biological processes.