The pioneer factor activity of c-Myb involves recruitment of p300 and induction of histone acetylation followed by acetylation-induced chromatin dissociation

Background The concept of pioneer transcription factors is emerging as an essential part of the epigenetic regulation, taking place during cell development and differentiation. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying pioneer factor activity remains poorly understood. We recently reported that the transcription factor c-Myb acts as a pioneer factor in haematopoiesis, and a point mutation in its DNA binding domain, D152V, is able to abrogate this function.