TWIST, bHLHa38, Twist-related protein 1, Class A basic helix-loop-helix protein 38, H-twist, TWIST1, bHLHa39, Class A basic helix-loop-helix protein 39, Dermis expressed protein 1, Dermis-expressed protein 1, DERMO 1, Dermo-1, DERMO1, MGC117334, Twist 2, Twist homolog 2 Drosophila, Twist homolog 2, Twist related bHLH protein Dermo1, Twist related protein 2, Twist-related protein 2, Twist2, TWST2_HUMAN.
TWIST1 and TWIST2 are basic helix-loop-helix transcriptional repressors that bind to E boxes in gene promoters, acting as master regulators in a variety of biological processes, including organogenesis, osteogenesis, cancer progression and hematopoietic cell development. Both TWIST1 and TWIST2 are found to act as Homodimers or Heterodimers with another bHLH protein. TWIST1 Acts as a transcriptional regulator. Inhibits myogenesis by sequestrating E proteins, inhibiting trans-activation by MEF2, and inhibiting DNA-binding by MYOD1 through physical interaction. TWIST1 also represses expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFA and IL1B. TWIST2 inhibits transcriptional activation by MYOD1, MYOG, MEF2A, and MEF2C. Twist2 inhibits the premature or ectopic differentiation of preosteoblast cells during osteogenesis.
