Homeobox Protein D12 (HOXD12)

HOXD12 belongs to the homeobox family of genes. The homeobox genes encode a highly conserved family of transcription factors that play an important role in morphogenesis in all multicellular organisms. Mammals possess four similar homeobox gene clusters, HOXA, HOXB, HOXC and HOXD, located on different chromosomes, consisting of 9 to 11 genes arranged in tandem. This gene is one of several homeobox HOXD genes located in a cluster on chromosome 2. Deletions that remove the entire HOXD gene cluster or the 5' end of this cluster have been associated with severe limb and genital abnormalities. The isolated D11.12 region repressed expression of a reporter gene, and D11.12 lacking the 237-bp conserved sequence did not recruit BMI1, SUZ12, or H3K27me3 or show repressor function.