转录因子Atonal家族的研究进展

Progress of studies on transcription factor Atonal family

转录因子atonal因其具有一个碱性螺旋-环-螺旋(bHLH)结构而被归属于bHLH转录因子家族,在调节真核生物生长发育过程中起着重要作用。目前的实验研究已经证明它与视觉、听觉、嗅觉的形成有关,同时在不同时期还能够决定细胞的分化命运和抑制肿瘤的扩散。主要从模式生物果蝇和小鼠中的基因结构、组织分布、功能特征等方面研究概述,为进一步了解其他物种atonal转录因子的功能和作用机制奠定基础。

Transcription factor atonal gene has a basic helix-loop-helix structure, it is attributable to bHLH transcription factor family and plays essential roles in the regulation of eukaryotic growth and development. The present experimental study proved that atonal gene is related to the formation of vision, hearing, smell, and also to decide the fate of cell differentiation at different times and inhibit the proliferation of tumor. This paper mainly reviewed the progresses of studies on the structure of atonal genes of model animals namely mouse and fruit fly, tissue distribution, functional characteristics.