Neurogenic differentiation factor 1 (Neurod1) is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that is involved in neurogenesis []. It has been found overexpressed in a variety of aggressive neural/neuroendocrine carcinomas [].
Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) is a zinc-finger transcription factor exclusively expressed in the foetal pancreas and nervous system, and in tumours of neuroendocrine origin. It can recruits cyclin D1 and HDACs, which confer transcriptional repressor activity []. It is involved in endocrine and neuronal cell differentiation []. In pancreas, it is activated by the islet-specific endocrine factor neurogenin 3, and subsequently regulates downstream target genes NeuroD1 and insulin during beta-cell maturation [].Transcription factor egl-46 is the C. elegans orthologue from human INSM2, which is involved in neuron differentiation [].
