NeuroD1 Antibody #2833

NeuroD1 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors. These proteins function by forming heterodimers with E-proteins and binding to the canonical E-box sequence CANNTG (1,2). Neuronal activity results in CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation of NeuroD1 at Ser336, which is necessary for formation and growth of dendrites (3,4). NeuroD1 is also phosphorylated at Ser274 though the results are context dependent as phosphorylation by Erk stimulates NeuroD1 activity in pancreatic β-cells while phosphorylation by GSK-3β inhibits NeuroD1 in neurons (3). NeuroD1 is crucially important in both the pancreas and developing nervous system, and plays a large role in the development of the inner ear and mammalian retina (3). Mice lacking NeuroD1 become severely diabetic and die shortly after birth due to defects in β-cell differentiation (2,3,5,6). The lack of NeuroD1 in the brain results in severe defects in development (5). Human mutations have been linked to a number of types of diabetes, including type I diabetes mellitus and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (1,3).