Chromobox Homolog 2 (CBX2)

CBX2 encodes a component of the polycomb multiprotein complex, which is required to maintain the transcriptionally repressive state of many genes throughout development via chromatin remodeling and modification of histones. Disruption of this gene in mice results in male-to-female gonadal sex reversal. Mutations in this gene are also associated with gonadal dysgenesis in humans. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been noted for this gene. M33, a mouse homolog of polycomb, was isolated by means of the structural similarity of its chromodomain. The fifth exon of M33 contains a region of homology shared by Drosophila and Xenopus. In Drosophila, its deletion results in the loss of polycomb function.