Separated at birth? the functional and molecular divergence of OLIG1 and OLIG2

Document Type

Article

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. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Publication Date

12-1-2012

Publication Title

Nature Reviews Neuroscience

ISSN

1471003X

E-ISSN

14710048

Volume

13

Issue

12

First Page

819

Last Page

831

PubMed ID

23165259

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/nrn3386

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