Abstract
During development, it is obvious that enormous multiplication and diversification of cells is required to build a body plan from a single fertilized egg and that these two processes, proliferation and differentiation, must be coordinated properly. Id proteins, negative regulators of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, possess the ability to inhibit differentiation and to stimulate proliferation, and are useful molecules for investigating the mechanisms regulating development. In the past few years, our understanding of the roles of Id proteins has been substantially enhanced by the detailed investigation of genetically modified animals. The data have indicated that the functions of Id proteins in vivo are functionally related to those revealed by earlier work in cell culture systems. However, unexpected organs and cell types have also been found to require Id proteins for their normal development. This review looks at the advances made in our understanding of the in vivo functions of Id proteins. The topics discussed include neurogenesis, natural killer cell development, lymphoid organogenesis, mammary gland development and spermatogenesis.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Division
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Cell Lineage
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DNA-Binding Proteins / deficiency
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
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Embryonic and Fetal Development / genetics
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Embryonic and Fetal Development / physiology
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs
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Immune System / cytology
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Immune System / physiology
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Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1
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Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2
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Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins
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Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
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Lymphoid Tissue / physiology
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Male
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Mammary Glands, Animal / cytology
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Mammary Glands, Animal / physiology
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Multigene Family*
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Neoplasm Proteins*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
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Nervous System / embryology
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Nervous System / metabolism
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Repressor Proteins*
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Spermatogenesis / physiology
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Transcription Factors / deficiency
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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ID4 protein, human
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Idb1 protein, mouse
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Idb2 protein, mouse
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Idb4 protein, mouse
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Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1
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Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2
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Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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ID3 protein, human