Mechanisms of Yin Yang 1 in oncogenesis: the importance of indirect effects.

ABSTRACT: Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that performs numerous functions including transcriptional regulation, cell growth control, apoptosis, large-scale chromosomal dynamics, and X-chromosome inactivation. YY1 clearly is able to control cell functions, including proliferation, by acting as a transcription factor either to activate or repress specific genes. Based on its ability to regulate cell growth control genes, it has been argued that YY1 can function as an oncogene that initiates oncogenesis. Although this is an attractive hypothesis, no reports indicate that YY1 can acutely transform cells in culture or form tumors within animals when overexpressed. Thus, it remains unclear whether YY1 is a "classic" oncogene. However, YY1 controls many diverse cell funct

SUBMITTER: Atchison M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3417111 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature