Homeobox Protein C9 (HOXC9)

HOXC9 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, which are located on different chromosomes and consist of 9 to 11 genes arranged in tandem. This gene is one of several homeobox HOXC genes located in a cluster on chromosome 12.Boncinelli et al. (1989) reported the genomic organization of 20 human class I homeobox genes and the predicted primary amino acid sequences of the encoded homeodomains. One set of genes was found in a complex locus on chromosome 12. The gene described here is designated homeobox-3B (HOX3B) or -C9 (HOXC9).