neurogenin1

Neurogenin-1 (NEUROG1), also known as Ngn1, is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor encoded by the NEUROG1 gene in humans and other vertebrates. It belongs to the neurogenin family of proneural proteins that promote neuronal differentiation during embryonic development. NEUROG1 proteins function as transcriptional activators, forming heterodimers with E-proteins and binding to E-box sequences to regulate genes involved in neuronal fate specification.

Expression of NEUROG1 is transient in neural progenitor cells across multiple regions of the developing central and peripheral nervous systems. It plays a key role in driving progenitors toward a neuronal lineage and, in many contexts, interacts with signaling pathways such as Notch to balance neurogenesis and gliogenesis. NEUROG1 operates in concert with other proneural factors, including NEUROG2 and ASCL1, as part of a regulatory network that patterns neural development.

In developmental studies, loss of NEUROG1 in mice leads to deficits in specific neuronal populations, notably certain olfactory and cranial sensory neurons, underscoring its role in olfactory and peripheral neurogenesis. Overexpression can accelerate neuronal differentiation, highlighting its function as a driver of neurogenesis in progenitor pools.

Evolutionarily, NEUROG1 is conserved across vertebrates and is part of a gene family that includes NEUROG2 and NEUROG3. Its activity integrates into broader neural differentiation programs controlled by proneural bHLH factors and signaling pathways that shape neural development.

NEUROG1 is used in research as a marker of neurogenic progenitors and, in some experimental settings, as part of strategies to convert non-neuronal cells into neurons.