SOX Family
SOX proteins make up a family of high-mobility group (HMG) domain transcription factors implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including development, cell reprogramming, and tumorigenesis. So far, 20 different SOX genes have been discovered.
Many SOX factors are involved in the development of the nervous system. For example, SOXB1 proteins are important for early embryonal CNS development and are also expressed in adult neural stem cells. SOX2 is one of the essential transcription factors contributing to the embryonic stem cell state and further development of the central nervous system.
SOX proteins are involved in CNS gliogenesis, where for example SOX10 is essential for terminal oligodendrocyte differentiation in the CNS. In the peripheral nervous system, SOX10 is required for the specification of all PNS glia.