ID2

ID2 or Inhibitor of DNA binding 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ID2 gene. ID2 is a member of the inhibitor of DNA binding family, which are transcriptional regulators that can form a complex with transcription factors and inhibit their activity.

Function

The ID2 protein is a helix-loop-helix (HLH) protein that can form heterodimers with other HLH proteins. It lacks a basic DNA-binding domain but can inhibit the DNA binding of other HLH proteins by forming non-functional heterodimers, which means it can inhibit the transcription of certain genes.

ID2 has been shown to inhibit the cell cycle and prevent cells from entering the S phase, which is the phase of the cell cycle where DNA is replicated. This can have implications in cancer development, as uncontrolled cell growth is a hallmark of cancer.

Clinical significance

Alterations in the ID2 gene have been associated with a variety of diseases. For example, overexpression of ID2 has been observed in many types of cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. This overexpression can lead to increased cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis, which can contribute to tumor growth.

In addition, ID2 has been implicated in the development of the nervous system. Studies have shown that ID2 plays a role in the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons and glial cells. Mutations in the ID2 gene can lead to neurological disorders such as microcephaly and mental retardation.

See also

• Inhibitor of DNA binding
• Transcription factor
• Cell cycle
• Cancer
• Neural stem cell