Description
E47 is a basic Helix Loop Helix (bHLH) transcription factor that has important roles in cell fate determination and differentiation of many cell types. In the nervous system E47 heterodimerizes with tissue-specific, pro-neural bHLH transcription factors and activates downstream target genes. To identify the relevant target genes of bHLH transcription factors in neural cells, we performed gene expression profiling of the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH engineered to acutely express ectopic E47 by an adenoviral vector. The experiments were done at two time points following adenoviral infection, 8 hours and 20 hours. Genes induced by E47 after 8 hours are likely to be direct targets of this transcription factor.