background:
The oligodendrocyte lineage-specific basic helix-loop-helix (OLIG) family of transcription factors include OLIG1-OLIG3, which differ in tissue expression. OLIG1 and OLIG2 are specifically expressed in nervous tissue as gene regulators of oligodendrogenesis. OLIG2 is more widely expressed in embryonic brain than OLIG1, while OLIG3 is primarily expressed in non-neural tissues. OLIG1 and OLIG2 interact with the Nkx-2.2 homeodomain protein, which is responsible for directing ventral neuronal patterning in response to graded Sonic hedgehog signaling in the embryonic neural tube. These interactions between OLIG proteins and Nkx-2.2 appear to promote the formation of alternate cell types by inhibiting V3 interneuron development. OLIG1 and OLIG2 are abundantly expressed in oligodendroglioma and nearly absent in astrocytomas. Therefore, OLIG proteins are candidates for molecular markers of human glial brain tumors, which are the most common primary malignancies of the human brain.
Function:
romotes formation and maturation of oligodendrocytes, especially within the brain. Cooperates with OLIG2 to establish the pMN domain of the embryonic neural tube (By similarity).
Subcellular Location:
Nucleus.
Tissue Specificity:
Expressed in the brain, in oligodendrocytes. Strongly expressed in oligodendrogliomas, while expression is weak to moderate in astrocytomas. Expression in glioblastomas is highly variable.
Similarity:
Contains 1 bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) domain.
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 116448 Human
Entrez Gene: 50914 Mouse
Entrez Gene: 60394 Rat
Omim: 606385 Human
SwissProt: Q8TAK6 Human
SwissProt: Q9JKN5 Mouse
SwissProt: Q9WUQ3 Rat
Unigene: 56663 Human
Unigene: 39300 Mouse
Unigene: 45339 Rat
Important Note:
This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications.
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