E Proteins and ID Proteins: Helix-Loop-Helix Partners in Development and Disease

Abstract

The basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) proteins represent a well-known class of transcriptional regulators. Many bHLH proteins act as heterodimers with members of a class of ubiquitous partners, the E proteins. A widely expressed class of inhibitory heterodimer partners-the Inhibitor of DNA-binding (ID) proteins-also exists. Genetic and molecular analyses in humans and in knockout mice implicate E proteins and ID proteins in a wide variety of diseases, belying the notion that they are non-specific partner proteins. Here, we explore relationships of E proteins and ID proteins to a variety of disease processes and highlight gaps in knowledge of disease mechanisms.

Keywords: E protein; Fuchs corneal dystrophy; Helix-Loop-Helix protein; ID protein; Parkinson’s disease; Pitt-Hopkins syndrome; Rett syndrome; Sjogren’s syndrome; arterial vascular disease; atherosclerosis; cell-cycle regulation; cellular senescence; congenital hydronephrosis; development; diabetes; differentiation; disease; mammary gland; neuronal morphogenesis; osteoporosis; pulmonary arterial hypertension; schizophrenia; sertoli cell; trophoblast.