Background of the antigen
Members of the myogenic determination family are basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins that can be separated into two classes, both of which work together to activate DNA transcription. Class A proteins include the ubiquitously expressed E-box binding factors, namely E2A, ITF-2 and HEB, while class B proteins, such as MyoD, myogenin and Neuro D (BETA2), are transiently expressed and exhibit a much more limited tissue distribution. Working in opposition to these positively acting factors are a specialized group of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors that function as dominant negative regulators and are involved in cell lineage determination and differentiation. Neuro D2 (neurogenic differentiation 2), also known as NDRF, NEUROD2 or bHLHa1, is a 382 amino acid nuclear protein that contains one bHLH domain and functions to induce neurogenic differentiation, playing an important role in the maintenance and determination of cell fate.
