Distal Less Homeobox Protein 5 (DLX5)

DLX5 may play a role in bone development and fracture healing. Mutation in this gene, which is located in a tail-to-tail configuration with another member of the family on the long arm of chromosome 7, may be associated with split-hand/split-foot malformation.

Msx2 associated with transcriptionally repressed OC chromatin, and Dlx3 and Dlx5 were recruited with Runx2 to initiate OC transcription. In a second regulatory switch, Dlx3 association decreased and Dlx5 recruitment increased coincident with the mineralization stage of osteoblast differentiation. The appearance of Dlx3 followed by Dlx5 in the OC promoter correlated with increased transcription represented by increased occupancy of RNA polymerase II.