HOXA13 : homeobox A13
Description
The HOXA13 (homeobox A13) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 7.
The HOXA13 gene instructs the production of a transcription factor protein that binds to DNA, controlling the activity of other genes. It's part of the homeobox gene family, crucial for early embryonic development and the formation of body structures. HOXA13 specifically contributes to the development of limbs, particularly hands and feet, as well as the urinary and reproductive systems. The protein features polyalanine tracts, whose function in its normal activity remains unclear.
HOXA13 is a transcription factor that binds to specific regions of DNA rich in adenine and thymine (AT-rich) and helps regulate gene activity. It plays a critical role in developmental processes, specifically in determining the spatial arrangement of cells along the body's front-to-back axis (anterior-posterior axis).
HOXA13 is also known as HOX1, HOX1J.
Associated Diseases
- Hand-foot-uterus syndrome
- Hand-foot-genital syndrome
- Preaxial deficiency, postaxial polydactyly, and hypospadias
