Open AccessRole of Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins during Differentiation of Erythroid Cells
Author(s) -
Archana Anantharaman,
I-Ju Lin,
Joeva J. Barrow,
Shermi Liang,
Jude Masannat,
John Strouboulis,
Suming Huang,
Jörg Bungert
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.01186-10
Subject(s) - biology , basic helix loop helix , microbiology and biotechnology , transcription factor , cellular differentiation , haematopoiesis , dna binding protein , progenitor cell , gene , genetics , stem cell
Helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins play a profound role in the process of development and cellular differentiation. Among the HLH proteins expressed in differentiating erythroid cells are the ubiquitous proteins Myc, USF1, USF2, and TFII-I, as well as the hematopoiesis-specific transcription factor Tal1/SCL. All of these HLH proteins exhibit distinct functions during the differentiation of erythroid cells. For example, Myc stimulates the proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells, while the USF proteins and Tal1 regulate genes that specify the differentiated phenotype. This minireview summarizes the known activities of Myc, USF, TFII-I, and Tal11/SCL and discusses how they may function sequentially, cooperatively, or antagonistically in regulating expression programs during the differentiation of erythroid cells.