PROSITE documentation PDOC00032'Homeobox' antennapedia-type protein signature
The homeotic Hox proteins are sequence-specific transcription factors. They are part of a developmental regulatory system that provides cells with specific positional identities on the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis [1]. The hox proteins contain a 'homeobox' domain. In Drosophila and other insects, there are eight different Hox genes that are encoded in two gene complexes, ANT-C and BX-C. In vertebrates there are 38 genes organized in four complexes.
In six of the eight Drosophila Hox genes the homeobox domain is highly similar and a conserved hexapeptide is found five to sixteen amino acids upstream of the homeobox domain. The six Drosophila proteins that belong to this group are antennapedia (Antp), abdominal-A (abd-A), deformed (Dfd), proboscipedia (pb), sex combs reduced (scr) and ultrabithorax (ubx) and are collectively known as the 'antennapedia' subfamily.
In vertebrates the corresponding Hox genes are known [2] as Hox-A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, Hox-B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, Hox-C4, C5, C6, C8, Hox-D1, D3, D4 and D8.
Caenorhabditis elegans lin-39 and mab-5 are also members of the 'antennapedia' subfamily.
As a signature pattern for this subfamily of homeobox proteins, we have used the conserved hexapeptide.
Note:Arg and Lys are most frequently found in the last position of the hexapeptide; other amino acids are found in only a few cases.
Last update:June 1994 / Text revised.
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PROSITE method (with tools and information) covered by this documentation:
| 1 | Authors | McGinnis W. Krumlauf R. |
| Title | Homeobox genes and axial patterning. | |
| Source | Cell 68:283-302(1992). | |
| PubMed ID | 1346368 |
| 2 | Authors | Scott M.P. |
| Title | Vertebrate homeobox gene nomenclature. | |
| Source | Cell 71:551-553(1992). | |
| PubMed ID | 1358459 |
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