Melanocyte fate in neural crest is triggered by Myb proteins through activation of c-kit

The c-myb proto-oncogene and its oncogenic derivative v−myb ^AMV encode transcriptional regulators engaged in the commitment of hematopoietic cells. While the c-Myb protein is important for the formation and differentiation of various progenitors, the v−Myb^AMV oncoprotein induces in chicks a progression and transformation of the single (monoblastic) cell lineage. Here we present the first evidence of cell fate-directing abilities of c-Myb and v−Myb^AMV proteins in avian neural crest (NC), where both proteins determine melanocytogenesis. The increased concentration of c-Myb induces progression into dendritic melanocytes and differentiation. The v-myb oncogene converts essentially all NC cells into melanocytes and causes their transformation. Both Myb proteins activate in NC cells expression of the c-kit gene and stem cell factor c-Kit signaling – one of the essential pathways in melanocyte development. These observations suggest that the c-myb-c-kit pathway represents a common regulatory scheme for both hematopoietic and neural progenitors and establishes a novel experimental model for studies of melanocytogenesis and melanocyte transformation.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, AS CR v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, Prague 4, 14220, Czech Republic

   V. Karafiat, M. Dvorakova, P. Pajer, V. Cermak & M. Dvorak

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Dvorak.

Received 20 July 2007; received after revision 27 August 2007; accepted 19 September 2007

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