Zebrafish id2 developmental expression pattern contains evolutionary conserved and species-specific characteristics.

The inhibitor of differentiation or inhibitor of DNA binding (Id) family are members of the helix-loop-helix (HLH) group of transcription factors that play important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle control, and apoptosis. They modulate the formation of active class A-class B basic HLH (bHLH) complexes. Ids lack the amino-terminal associated basic region necessary for DNA binding, thus sequestering the class A factors, inhibiting the formation of active class A-class B heterodimers and, therefore, are considered to act as dominant-negative regulators of differentiation pathways. We isolated zebrafish id2, and its expression during development was characterized. id2, in addition to regions of expression detected in Xenopus and mice, is also expressed in the tegmentum; midbrain-hindbrain boundary; cerebellum; rhombomeres 2,3,4,6; notochord; and corpuscles of Stannius. Furthermore, we show that expression of id2 is repressed in mind bomb mutants, suggesting a role of Notch upstream of Id2. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.