Basic helix-loop-helix genes in neural development.

Several major advances in the understanding of the regulation of vertebrate neurogenesis by members of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein family have been made in the past year. Specifically, a number of bHLH genes have been cloned and shown to convert non-neuronal fate to neuronal fate when expressed ectopically. In particular, studies on NeuroD and Neurogenin suggest a regulatory pathway, providing powerful molecular tools to study vertebrate neurogenesis.