Myod phospho-E proteins Myod:phospho-E heterodimers Heterodimerization of E proteins with Myod Authored: Garapati, P V, 2008-08-11 10:36:48 Edited: Garapati, P V, 2008-08-11 10:36:48 MyoD is a basic helix loop helix (bHLH) myoblast specific transcription factor defined as a 'master switch' gene in that it can convert other cell types into muscles if the gene is active in them. bHLH proteins Myf5, Myogenin and MRF4/Myf6 are highly related to MyoD and these along with MyoD form the 'MyoD family' of transcription factors, also called the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). <br>MRFs form transcriptionally active heterodimers with the widely expressed E proteins, a distinct group of bHLH proteins including E12/E47, ITF-2 and HEB. Dimerization of these proteins juxtaposes their basic domains forming a functional DNA binding domain. MyoD/E protein heterodimers preferentially bind the DNA consensus sequence referred to as an E-box (CANNTG) in the control regions of muscle-specific genes and activate gene transcription of genes that are expressed in skeletal muscle. Reactome Database ID Release 43448962 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_21420 Reviewed: Krauss, RS, 2010-02-09