Hes family bHLH transcription factor 2 (HES2)

Hes family bHLH transcription factor 2 (HES2) is a transcriptional repressor belonging to the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and Hairy and enhancer of split (HES) family, encoded by the human HES2 gene[3][4][5]. HES2 contains conserved functional domains: a bHLH domain for DNA binding and dimerization, an Orange domain for partner specificity, and a WRPW motif for transcriptional repression[1]. It acts by repressing the transcription of genes regulated by other bHLH proteins, thereby influencing cell fate decisions, particularly promoting glial cell fate over neuronal fate during neurogenesis[2][3]. HES2 plays a role in regulating the balance between proliferation and differentiation of neural precursors, mainly through inhibition of proneural bHLH activators and interaction with other transcription factors. It is located in the cell nucleus and binds DNA in a sequence-specific manner[3][4]. Diseases associated with HES2 include campomelic dysplasia, and dysregulation of HES family members generally has implications in cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders[3]. There are currently no known drugs that specifically target HES2, nor are there described biomarker or safety concerns unique to this molecule in the literature.

Other names

Transcription factor HES-2HES2BHLHB40bHLHb40Class B basic helix-loop-helix protein 40Hairy and enhancer of split 2transcription factor HES-2class B basic helix-loop-helix protein 40