Forkhead Box Protein O4 (FOXO4)

FOXO4 encodes a member of the O class of winged helix/forkhead transcription factor family. A translocation involving this gene on chromosome X and the homolog of the Drosophila trithorax gene, encoding a DNA binding protein, located on chromosome 11 is associated with leukemia. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.The gene disrupted on the X chromosome, AFX1 (also symbolized MLLT7), was expressed in a variety of cell types. Sequence analysis indicated a high degree of homology between AFX1 and the forkhead family of transcription factors. The high degree of identity within the forkhead region and the lack of homology outside that region suggested to the authors that AFX1 represents a novel forkhead family member.