背景
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper
(bHLHZ) family of transcription factors. It is able to form homodimers and heterodimers with
other family members, which include Mad, Mxi1 and Myc. Myc is an oncoprotein implicated
in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The homodimers and heterodimers
compete for a common DNA target site (the E box) and rearrangement among these dimer
forms provides a complex system of transcriptional regulation. Mutations of this gene have
been reported to be associated with hereditary pheochromocytoma. A pseudogene of this
gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 7. Alternative splicing results in multiple
transcript variants.
