Forkhead Box Protein D3 (FOXD3)

FOXD3 is expressed during early embryogenesis in the epiblast and later in neural crest cells, and that FOXD3 expression is a diagnostic marker of human embryonic stem cell lines. The deduced 465-amino acid protein contains a 100-amino acid central winged helix domain and several domains and motifs found in transcriptional regulators. Northern blot analysis detected Genesis expression in mouse embryonic stem cells and embryonal carcinoma cells, but not in other embryonic, neonatal, or adult tissues or cells examined. Differentiation of mouse embryonal carcinoma cells and mouse embryonic stem cells in culture led to downregulation of Genesis expression.In situ hybridization detected Foxd3 throughout the epiblast of 6.5-day postcoitum embryo, with faint expression in the extraembryonic region.