Tales of destruction and repair: the changing view of MYC proteins in tumorigenesis

MYC proteins are classically viewed as oncoproteins because they act as DNA-bound transcription factors that drive characteristic gene expression programs. Building on this view, recent work has shown that MYC proteins engage in multiple protein complexes that resolve transcription-associated stress and that they function as both DNA- and RNA-binding proteins. These findings suggest that, through these activities, MYC proteins enhance the stress resilience of proliferating cells and enable tumor cells to sustain nonphysiological, oncogenic gene expression programs.