Apicomplexan parasites are a large and diverse clade of protists responsible for significant diseases of humans and animals. Central to the ability of these parasites to colonize their host and evade immune responses is an expanded repertoire of gene-expression programs that requires the coordinated action of complex transcriptional networks. DNA-binding proteins and chromatin regulators are essential orchestrators of apicomplexan gene expression that often act in concert. Although apicomplexan genomes encode various families of putative DNA-binding proteins, most remain functionally and mechanistically unexplored. This review highlights the versatile role of myeloblastosis (Myb) domain–containing proteins in apicomplexan parasites as transcription factors and chromatin regulators. We explore the diversity of Myb domain structure and use phylogenetic analysis to identify common features across the phylum. This provides a framework to discuss functional heterogeneity and regulation of Myb domain–containing proteins particularly emphasizing their role in parasite differentiation.

顶复门寄生虫是一个庞大而多样的原生生物分支，是造成人类和动物重大疾病的原因。这些寄生虫定植宿主并逃避免疫反应的能力的核心是基因表达程序的扩展，需要复杂转录网络的协调作用。DNA 结合蛋白和染色质调节因子是顶端复合体基因表达的重要协调者，通常协同作用。尽管顶端复合体基因组编码各种假定的 DNA 结合蛋白家族，但大多数在功能和机制上仍未得到探索。这篇综述强调了成髓细胞增多症 (Myb) 结构域的多功能作用，该结构域包含顶复门寄生虫中作为转录因子和染色质调节因子的蛋白质。我们探索 Myb 结构域结构的多样性，并使用系统发育分析来识别整个门的共同特征。这提供了一个框架来讨论包含 Myb 结构域的蛋白质的功能异质性和调节，特别强调它们在寄生虫分化中的作用。