IntroductionThe bHLH-LZ transcription factor c-MYC acts in a gene-specific manner by binding consensus E-box motifs in target genes to activate transcription 1-6 and generally to influence chromatin structure, 7-9 resulting in master regulation of key biologic processes including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Unsurprisingly, the consequences of dysregulated c-MYC expression are profound: loss of c-MYC expression in knockout mice is embryonically lethal 10 and overexpression of c-MYC in mouse models results in malignant transformation. [11][12][13][14][15][16] In addition, overexpression of c-MYC is observed in many forms of human cancer as a result of chromosomal translocations, gene amplification, altered protein stability, or other ill-defined mechanisms. [17][18][19] An increasingly recognized function of MYC is the ability to drive cell growth by regulating a subset of genes critical for cellular metabolism, macromolecular (RNA and protein) synthesis, and protein turnover. 20-23 c-MYC has been shown to regulate RNA polymerase II-dependent synthesis of ribosomal proteins 20,23,24 and RNA polymerase III-dependent synthesis of 5S rRNA and tRNAs, 25 and more recently we and others have linked it to RNA polymerase I-dependent transcription, [26][27][28][29] resulting in the coordinate upregulation of ribosome biogenesis that is required for growth. A key feature of the growth-promoting role of c-MYC is its ability to act in concert with the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signal transduction pathway not only to coordinate ribosome biogenesis but also via modulation of ribosome function to promote its own expression.The mTORC1 complex represents a vital downstream node in the PI3K/AKT signal transduction pathway for matching rates of protein synthesis to nutrient availability. 30,31 Under favorable energy conditions, signaling through mTORC1 contributes to ribosome biogenesis by improving the efficiency with which mRNAs containing a 5Ј TOP (terminal oligopyrimidine tract) are translated. 32-34 mTORC1 also drives rDNA transcription via phosphorylation of S6 kinase 1 and subsequent downstream signaling to UBF. 35 In addition, phosphorylation of another mTORC1 substrate, 4EBP1, releases eIF4E from inhibitory binding by 4EBP1 allowing eIF4E to participate in a fully competent translation initiation complex. In turn, this permits the cap-dependent translation of a subset of mRNAs containing a complex secondary structure in the 5Ј UTR region that is weakly translated when the activity of the PI3K pathway is suboptimal. 36 This subset of mRNAs with a complex 5Ј UTR includes c-Myc and other growth-and cell cycle-related transcripts such as ornithine decarboxylase (Odc) and cyclin D1. 37 The macrolide antibiotic rapamycin is a potent mTORC1 inhibitor. Rapamycin and its analogues act in complex with the immunophilin FK506-binding protein 12 (FKB12), to bind and selectively inhibit mTORC1 activity and therefore limit ribosome numbers and function. [38][39][40][41] Terminal myeloid differentiation (TMD) is the process b...