title: Separated at birth? The functional and molecular divergence of OLIG1 and OLIG2.
abstract: The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (OLIG1) and OLIG2 are structurally similar and, to a first approximation, coordinately expressed in the developing CNS and postnatal brain. Despite these similarities, it was apparent from early on after their discovery that OLIG1 and OLIG2 have non-overlapping developmental functions in patterning, neuron subtype specification and the formation of oligodendrocytes. Here, we summarize more recent insights into the separate roles of these transcription factors in the postnatal brain during repair processes and in neurological disease states, including multiple sclerosis and malignant glioma. We discuss how the unique functions of OLIG1 and OLIG2 may reflect their distinct genetic targets, co-regulator proteins and/or post-translational modifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Dimphna H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Shwetal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Hongye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Stiles
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rowitch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; C405707:OLIG1 protein, human; C405708:OLIG2 protein, human