Question

What is the likely mechanism by which chromosome 8;14 translocations cause Burkitt lymphoma?

A It puts a protooncogene downstream of a strong promoter
B It fuses a protooncogene with another protein and alters its activity
C It deletes its opposing tumor suppressor
D It deletes a regulatory region for the gene
E It removes its 3′ UTR

Answer 1

The chromosome 8;14 translocation in Burkitt lymphoma likely causes cancer by placing the MYC protooncogene downstream of a strong promoter, leading to its overexpression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The likely mechanism by which chromosome 8;14 translocations cause Burkitt lymphoma is A) it puts a protooncogene downstream of a strong promoter. This translocation results in the placement of the MYC protooncogene under the control of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene enhancer on chromosome 14, leading to overexpression of the MYC oncogene. MYC is a transcription factor that when overexpressed, transforms normal B cells into malignant ones, promoting rapid and uncontrolled cell growth.