AhR, Arnt 1, Arnt 2 and BMAL1 are members of a family of transcription factors that contain a basic helix-loop-helix motif and a common “PAS” motif. The aromatic (aryl) hydrocarbon receptor, AhR, is a ligand dependent transcription factor that interacts with specific DNA sequences termed xenobiotic responsive elements (XREs) to activate several genes including CYP1A1, glutathione S-transferase Ya subunit and DT-diaphorase. The Ah receptor nuclear translocator proteins (Arnt 1 or Arnt 2) are required for ligand-dependent nuclear translocation of the Ah receptor and are also necessary for Ah receptor binding to the XRE element. Arnt 2 (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2), also known as Hif-2b or bHLHe1, is a 712 amino acid nuclear protein that is exclusively expressed in adult brain and kidney. Containing a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain, a PAC (PAS-associated C-terminal) domain and two PAS (PER-ARNT-SIM) domains, Arnt 2 specifically recognizes the xenobiotic response element (XRE).
