BARX Homeobox Protein 2 (BARX2)

BARX2 encodes a member of the homeobox transcription factor family. A highly related protein in mouse has been shown to influence cellular processes that control cell adhesion and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton in myoblast fusion and chondrogenesis. The encoded protein may also play a role in cancer progression.

Barx2 stimulated activity of an L1 promoter containing the regulatory element but repressed activity when this sequence was deleted. The Barx2 gene is related to genes at the Bar locus of Drosophila. Localization studies showed that expression of Barx1 and Barx2 overlap in the nervous system, particularly in the telencephalon, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia. Barx2 was also prominently expressed in the floor plate and in the Rathke pouch.