c-Myb Plays a Role InG2/M Cell Cycle Transition by Direct Regulation of Cyclin B1 Expression in Hematopoietic Cells.

Myb family transcription factors are found throughout the phyla, and recent studies have demonstrated that Drosophila myb, as well as plant and yeast c-myb-like transcription factors, play an important role in regulating transition though the G1/S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Myb’s ability to regulate passage through G2/M is due at least in part to its ability to induce Cyclin B1 expression. A recent study in human T98G ganglioblastoma cells revealed that E2F, together with B-Myb, regulated cyclin B1 expression. Though c-myb was expressed in these cells, it was not found in immunoprecipitated E2F-B-Myb protein complexes and for this reason was felt not to participate in cyclin B1 expression in these cells. Since c-myb plays such a critical role in regulating hematopoietic cell proliferation, and its role in regulating G2/M in blood cells has not previously been explored, we investigated whether c-myb was important is regulating this phase of the cell cycle using K562 and Mo7e cells, as well as PHA stimulated human T lymphocytes. In distinct contrast to findings reported for T98G cells, we now report that in normal and malignant human hematopoietic cells, c-Myb directly upregulates cyclin B1 expression. Several lines of evidence support this claim. First, cyclin B1 expression decreased in Mo7e human leukemia cells in which c-myb had been silenced with siRNA. siRNA targeted to B-myb also decreased cyclin B1 expression, while neither siRNA species decreased cdc2 or cyclin A in these cells. As expected, siRNA targeted against c-myb or B-myb impaired Mo7e cell proliferation. Simultaneous exposure to both siRNA blocked proliferation completely. Second, using an alternative strategy, an inducible dominant negative c-Myb protein also decreased cyclin B1 expression in K562 human leukemia cells. The expected consequence of this, accelerated exit from the M phase, was also observed. Third, we examined c-Myb expression in human T cells by western and Real Time PCR, pre and post PHA stimulation. c-Myb expression began to gradually increase in the G1 phase of cell cycle, continued to increase after S phase, with the maximal protein level being found in G2/M phase, and concordant with cyclin B1 expression. These results indicated a correlation between c-Myb and cyclin B1 expression but did not indicate if c-Myb regulated cyclin B1 expression directly. To address this question, several additional experiments were carried out. A CAT assay showed that overexpressing c-Myb protein could increase activity when driven by a cyclin B1 promoter construct ~5X compared to K562 control cells. Next, examination of the cyclin B1 promoter showed eight potential c-Myb binding sites. Two were canonical [5′-pyrimidine AACG/TG-3′] and located upstream of 6 others which were [5′-AACNG-3′] in type. An in vitro c-Myb binding assay revealed that c-Myb bound the canonical sites. We then performed a Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) Assay with anti-c-Myb antibody and specifically enriched cyclin B1 promoter DNA sequences which strongly suggested that c-Myb bound the cyclin B1 promoter in vivo. A control antibody was inactive. Finally, a conditionally active c-Myb restored cyclin B1 mRNA expression in K562 human leukemia cells in presence of cycloheximide within 6 hours. Therefore, in addition to its role in regulating G1/S cell cycle transition, c-Myb also regulates cyclin B1 expression and therefore transition through the G2/M phase in human hematopoietic cells.