Myb transcription factors: a conserved eukaryotic family of transcription factors involved in cell differentiation

Abstract

Myb family proteins are ubiquitous in eukaryotes, and contain a characteristic DNA binding domain called Myb domain. The Myb domain consists in a conserved amino acid sequence (50-53 amino acids) that can be repeated from two (essential domain for DNA binding) to four times in the same protein. In plants, the Myb family is very numerous while in animals there are only three members; at least, one member of this family has been identified in other eukaryotes. Myb proteins participate as transcriptional activators or repressors in the regulation of fundamental cellular processes in metabolism or cell differentiation. Activity from Myb proteins is regulated through several post-translational modifications: redox state, phosphorylation and ubiquitylation stand out among them.