Helix-loop-helix genes translocated in lymphoid leukemia.

A new class of DNA-binding proteins with a helix-loop-helix (HLH) structure has recently been described. Many of these transcriptional regulators are known to play a central role in cell-specification and differentiation processes. Four members of the HLH family are now implicated in the development of human lymphoid malignancies as a result of aberrant expression following chromosomal translocation events. This review focuses on two of these family members: SCL and LYL-1.