Neurogenic differentiation factor 2 (Neurod2) is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that induces neuronal differentiation and promotes neuronal survival [, ]. NeuroD2 might influence synaptic structure and function by regulating the expression of scaffolding proteins in the developing hippocampus [].The bHLH (basic Helix-Loop-Helix) proteins contain the bHLH domain that is approximately 60 amino acids long and consists of a DNA-binding basic region followed by two a-helices separated by a variable loop region (HLH). The HLH domain promotes dimerisation, allowing the formation of homo- or heterodimeric complexes between different family members. Many bHLH proteins have been shown to act as transcriptional regulators [].
