| Background: | Transcription factor expressed in neurons of the brain that regulates the excitatory-inhibitory balance within neural circuits and is required for contextual memory in the hyppocampus (By similarity). Plays a key role in the structural and functional plasticity of neurons (By similarity). Acts as an early-response transcription factor in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons, where it induces distinct but overlapping sets of late-response genes in these two types of neurons, allowing the synapses that form on inhibitory and excitatory neurons to be modified by neuronal activity in a manner specific to their function within a circuit, thereby facilitating appropriate circuit responses to sensory experience (By similarity). In excitatory neurons, activates transcription of BDNF, which in turn controls the number of GABA-releasing synapses that form on excitatory neurons, thereby promoting an increased number of inhibitory synapses on excitatory neurons (By similarity). In inhibitory neurons, regulates a distinct set of target genes that serve to increase excitatory input onto somatostatin neurons, probably resulting in enhanced feedback inhibition within cortical circuits (By similarity). The excitatory and inhibitory balance in neurons affects a number of processes, such as short-term and long-term memory, acquisition of experience, fear memory, response to stress and social behavior (By similarity). Acts as a regulator of dendritic spine development in olfactory bulb granule cells in a sensory-experience-dependent manner by regulating expression of MDM2 (By similarity). Efficient DNA binding requires dimerization with another bHLH protein, such as ARNT, ARNT2 or BMAL1. Can activate the CME (CNS midline enhancer) element. |
| Synonyms: | Neuronal PAS domain-containing protein 4 (Neuronal PAS4) (Class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 79) (bHLHe79) (HLH-PAS transcription factor NXF) (PAS domain-containing protein 10), NPAS4, BHLHE79 NXF PASD10 |
| UniProt Protein Function: | NPAS4: Acts as a transcriptional activator in the presence of ARNT. Can activate the CME (CNS midline enhancer) element and the expression of the drebrin gene.Protein type: DNA-bindingChromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 11q13Cellular Component: transcription factor complex; nucleusMolecular Function: signal transducer activity; protein heterodimerization activityBiological Process: transcription, DNA-dependent; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; signal transduction |
| UniProt Protein Details: | |
| NCBI Summary: | NXF is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix-PER (MIM 602260)-ARNT (MIM 126110)-SIM (see SIM2; MIM 600892) (bHLH-PAS) class of transcriptional regulators, which are involved in a wide range of physiologic and developmental events (Ooe et al., 2004 [PubMed 14701734]).[supplied by OMIM, Mar 2008] |
| UniProt Code: | Q8IUM7 |
| NCBI GenInfo Identifier: | 194097477 |
| NCBI Gene ID: | 266743 |
| NCBI Accession: | NP_849195.2 |
| UniProt Secondary Accession: | Q8IUM7,Q8N8S5, Q8N9Q9, B7ZL81 |
| UniProt Related Accession: | Q8IUM7 |
| Molecular Weight: | |
| NCBI Full Name: | neuronal PAS domain-containing protein 4 |
| NCBI Synonym Full Names: | neuronal PAS domain protein 4 |
| NCBI Official Symbol: | NPAS4Â Â |
| NCBI Official Synonym Symbols: | NXF; Le-PAS; PASD10; bHLHe79Â Â |
| NCBI Protein Information: | neuronal PAS domain-containing protein 4 |
| UniProt Protein Name: | Neuronal PAS domain-containing protein 4 |
| UniProt Synonym Protein Names: | Class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 79; bHLHe79; HLH-PAS transcription factor NXF; PAS domain-containing protein 10 |
| Protein Family: | Neuronal PAS domain-containing protein |
| UniProt Gene Name: | NPAS4Â Â |
| UniProt Entry Name: | NPAS4_HUMAN |
