ARNT, BHLHE2, Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator, ARNT protein, Class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 2, bHLHe2, Dioxin receptor, nuclear translocator, Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-beta, HIF-1-beta, HIF1-beta
HIF-1beta is also known as AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) due to its ability to partner with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) to form a heterodimeric transcription factor complex. Together with AhR, HIF-1beta plays an important role in xenobiotics metabolism. In addition, a chromosomal translocation leading to a TEL-ARNT fusion protein is associated with acute myeloblastic leukemia. Studies also found that ARNT/HIF-1beta expression levels decrease significantly in pancreatic islets from patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that HIF-1beta plays an important role in pancreatic beta-cell function.