Transcription factors are proteins that bind DNA adjacent to genes and control the production of mRNA transcripts. Scleraxis (basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor scleraxis) is a 201 amino acid protein that dimerizes with another bHLH protein to initiate transcription. Scleraxis is known to play a role in formation of mesoderm and somite-derived chondrogenic lineages. Scleraxis localizes to the nucleus and contains 1 bHLH domain. bHLH transcription factors, in general, function in cel