OLIG2
Description
The OLIG2 (oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 21.
Oligodendrocyte transcription factor (OLIG2) is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor encoded by the OLIG2 gene. The protein consists of 329 amino acids, has a size of 32 kDa, and contains one basic helix-loop-helix DNA-binding domain. It is one of three members of the bHLH family, the other two being OLIG1 and OLIG3. OLIG2 expression is primarily confined to the central nervous system, where it functions as both an anti-neurigenic and a neurigenic factor at different developmental stages. OLIG2 is well-known for its role in determining motor neuron and oligodendrocyte differentiation, as well as its role in sustaining replication during early development. It is primarily involved in diseases such as brain tumors and Down syndrome. OLIG2 is predominantly expressed in restricted regions of the brain and spinal cord ventricular zone, which give rise to oligodendrocytes and specific types of neurons. In the spinal cord, the pMN region sequentially generates motor neurons and oligodendrocytes. During embryogenesis, OLIG2 initially directs motor neuron fate by establishing a ventral domain of motor neuron progenitors and promoting neuronal differentiation.
OLIG2 is also known as BHLHB1, OLIGO2, PRKCBP2, RACK17, bHLHe19.
