NEUROD2
Description
The NEUROD2 (neuronal differentiation 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 17.
Neurogenic differentiation factor 2 is a protein encoded by the NEUROD2 gene in humans. It belongs to the neuroD family of neurogenic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins. NeuroD2 can activate transcription from neuron-specific promoters, including the GAP-43 promoter, which contain E-box sequences. It can induce neurogenic differentiation in non-neuronal cells in Xenopus embryos and is believed to be involved in the determination and maintenance of neuronal cell fates. NeuroD2 interacts with Protein kinase N1.
NeuroD2 is a transcriptional regulator crucial for neuronal development and differentiation. It activates transcription by binding to E-box sequences in promoters, a process modulated by calcium levels. Notably, NeuroD2 is essential for suppressing neuronal differentiation, preventing premature synapse formation in developing neurons. This suppression is achieved through the induction of ZEB1, which in turn downregulates REST expression. NeuroD2 plays a key role in establishing and refining neural connections, particularly in the thalamus and somatosensory cortex, and is involved in the development of specific brain regions like the cerebellum, hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus. It associates with chromatin at the DPYSL3 E-box promoter and interacts with various proteins, including TCF3, TCF4, TCF12, and CDC20.
NEUROD2 is also known as DEE72, EIEE72, NDRF, bHLHa1.
