Distal Less Homeobox Protein 1 (DLX1)

DLX1 encodes a member of a homeobox transcription factor gene family similar to the Drosophila distal-less gene. The encoded protein is localized to the nucleus where it may function as a transcriptional regulator of signals from multiple TGF-{beta} superfamily members. The encoded protein may play a role in the control of craniofacial patterning and the differentiation and survival of inhibitory neurons in the forebrain. This gene is located in a tail-to-tail configuration with another member of the family on the long arm of chromosome 2. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described.The second lineage, characterized by the expression of DLX1 and DLX2 but not MASH1, forms around 35% of the GABAergic neurons and originates from the ganglionic eminence of the ventral forebrain.