Isolation and characterization of the porcine c-myc proto-oncogene and chromosomal assignment to SSC 4p13

The proto-oncogene c-myc codes for a nuclear phosphoprotein, a transcriptio n factor composed of the typical basic/helix-loop-helix/ leucine zipper dom ains. Its expression is coupled to a multitude of physiological processes a nd regulated by a variety of hormones, growth factors, cytokines, lymphokin es and the nutritional status, development and differentiation. Its key rol es have been characterized, e.g. in adipogenesis, myogenesis and folliculog enesis. We have isolated and sequenced a 6.4-kb genomic fragment encoding t he porcine c-myc proto-oncogene. The gene shows the typical c-myc structure with three exons, three putative promoters and a deduced protein of 439 am ino acids. The porcine c-myc was mapped to chromosome 4p13 by screening of a porcine-rodent hybrid cell panel.